Effects of vibratory training on plantar impression in patients affected by stroke

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of vibration training on plantar impression and motor function in patients affected by stroke. Methods: The sample consisted of 28 individuals with hemiparesis after stroke who were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n=18) and the control group (n=10). The instruments used for evaluation were the mini-mental state examination, photopodoscopy and the 6-minute walk test. For treatment, whole body vibration training was used three times a week for 8 weeks. The treatment was carried out in two phases. The first phase, which lasted for 4 weeks, consisted of four sets of exercises with 60 seconds of vibration. In the first exercise, the participants were in a static standing position, feet apart with knees flexed at 30°. In the second exercise, the same position was implemented, with knees flexed at 90°. In the third exercise, a standing position with one-leg support on the affected limb with flexed knee at 30°. The fourth exercise was a repetition of the first exercise. The second phase also lasted for 4 weeks. It consisted of the same exercises but the amount of sets of exercises was doubled. Results: Data were analysed by independent t-test and repeated measures ANOVA with two factors. There was no intergroup nor intragroup statistical difference (P=0.05) in the plantar impression area on the affected and unaffected side; there was only intragroup statistical differences in the 6-minute walk test (P=0.03). Conclusions: Whole-body vibration training did not influence the increase of the plantar impression area and motor function in stroke patients.