Whole-body Vibration as a Treatment for Parkinson's Disease

This study will evaluate whether whole-body vibration applied over a 12-week period is effective in treating motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease resulting in the loss of dopaminergic neurons projecting from the substantia nigra pars compacta to the striatum. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is potentially beneficial in treating Parkinson's disease because it has been shown to elicit effects specific to both the brain and muscular system. Animal models of PD indicate that whole-body vibration can increase striatal dopamine levels, as well as the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. These findings were correlated with increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor. In addition to the potentially neuroplastic effects, >20 Hz WBV has been shown to improve muscular performance. Improved muscular performance is believed to be attributed to WBV induced neuromuscular effects rather than muscle hypertrophy, with the specific mechanism defined as the tonic vibration reflex.

pressure sensitive carpet (GAITRite) measuring gait parameters (step length, step velocity, stride-to-stride variability, etc)

measuring time participants take to stand up from chair, walk towards an obstacle, turn around, walk back to chair, and sit back down again

25 pegs with a key along one side must be rotated to properly be inserted into slot on board (measuring time-in and time-out)

Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's Disease by a Neurologist Currently taking anti-Parkinsonian medication Able to stand for 2 minutes without assistance Able to walk 10 meters without assistance Ability to understand English instructions Normal or corrected vision Exclusion Criteria: A neurological disease other than PD recent stroke cardiovascular disease previous major hemorrhage artificial pacemaker currently pregnant Current participation in any physical therapy or experimental treatments Peripheral neuropathy, severe osteoporosis Visual impairments that cannot be corrected Clinically diagnosed with dementia Greater than mild dementia (screened using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MOCA) <24 being excluded)

Haas CT, Turbanski S, Kessler K, Schmidtbleicher D. The effects of random whole-body-vibration on motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. NeuroRehabilitation. 2006;21(1):29-36.

Ebersbach G, Edler D, Kaufhold O, Wissel J. Whole body vibration versus conventional physiotherapy to improve balance and gait in Parkinson's disease. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008 Mar;89(3):399-403. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2007.09.031.

King LK, Almeida QJ, Ahonen H. Short-term effects of vibration therapy on motor impairments in Parkinson's disease. NeuroRehabilitation. 2009;25(4):297-306. doi: 10.3233/NRE-2009-0528.