JCPR Journal of Clinical Physiotherapy Research Original Article
Journal of Clinical Physiotherapy Research. 2016;1(2): 86-90
Copyright © 2016 Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved. Downloaded from: http://journals.sbmu.ac.ir/physiotherapy/
Spinal Stabilization Exercise with and without Whole–Body Vibration:
A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Maede Torabi
a
, Farshad Okhovatian
b*
, Sedigheh Sadat Naimi
b
, Alireza Akbarzade Baghban
a
a School of Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, b Physiotherapy Research Centre, School of
Rehabilitation, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
*Corresponding Author: Physiotherapy Research Centre, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Tel: +98-21 77561407;
E-mail: farshadokhovatian1965@gmail.com
Submitted: 2015-04-30; Accepted: 2016-09-04
Introduction: The present study aimed to compare the impacts of core stability exercises with and without Whole Body Vibration (WBV)
training sessions lasting two weeks on trunk muscle endurance in patients with non-specific chronic low back. Methods and Materials: Thirty
participants were randomly placed into either a WBV group or a spinal stabilization group at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences,
Tehran, Iran, in 2013. The dependent variables manipulated included the abdominal and spinal muscular endurance, assessed prior to, midway
through, and after two weeks and the WBV or spinal stabilization intervention program implemented using stabilizer pressure biofeedback unit
and Biering Sorensen test. Results: Changes in transverse abdominal and internal oblique muscle endurance in prone position were statistically
significant among the participants in both groups (P<0.05). However, changes in transverse abdominal muscle endurance in supine position and
multifidus muscle endurance were not observed to be statistically significant in both groups. In addition, inter-group analysis showed that except
for the percentage of changes of multifidus muscle endurance, the vibration group demonstrated significant improvement over the non-vibration
group. Conclusion: As no significant difference was observed between the two treatment methods, none of treatment methods was more
effective comparatively in terms of improving mid-term trunk muscle endurance.
Keywords: Whole body vibration, Trunk muscle endurance, Non-specific chronic low back pain, Core stability
Please cite this paper as: Maede Torabi M, Okhovatian F, Naimi SS, Akbarzade Baghban A. Spinal Stabilization Exercise with and without
Whole–Body Vibration: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Tria. JCPR. 2017; 1(2): 86-90. Doi: 10.22037/jcpr.2016.08.
Introduction
The financial costs and disability caused by low back pain (LBP)
are among growing clinical and socioeconomic problems (1).
Although 5%-10% of patients suffer from chronic pain and
disability, higher rates have been reported for chronic back pain as
42%-75% and recurrence of back pain episodes (24%-84%) (2).
After developing LBP, patients often remain sedentary
because of the fear of the pain caused by movement. Such
behavior is harmful in particular as the decreased amusement
activity results in deconditioning (3). Fatigue caused by low
endurance in trunk muscles may affect the ability of people with
LBP in responding to the demands of an unexpected load. After
repetitive loadings, fatigue may also lead to control and precision
loss; prejudice the individual to develop the LBP. Therefore,
trunk muscle endurance training has been recommended to
elevate fatigue threshold and improve performance, and
consequently, to reduce lumbar spine disability (4).
Trunk muscles mainly function as support to the vertebrae (5).
Lower back extensor muscles play an important role in
dynamically controlling the moving segments (5). While each of
the local paraspinal muscles promote spinal stability, the
multifidus alone is the cause of more than two-thirds of the
stiffness with sagittal plane movements when the local paraspinal
muscles are contracted (4). The synergistic contractions of the
multifidus and deep abdominal muscles function as a dynamic
corset for the lumbar vertebrae (3). These muscles increase spinal
stiffness via elevated intra-abdominal pressure because of
tensioning the lumbar spine, generating a posterior shear force
against the lumbar spine, decreasing the compliance of abdominal
contents, or indirectly increasing the thoracolumbar fascia tension
(6). Intra-abdominal pressure impresses spinal stability by
producing an extensor moment and applying force down on the
pelvic floor as well as up on the diaphragm (7).
Poor spinal and abdominal muscle control can be seen
among individuals with chronic LBP (8-10). Supporting such