Investigating the Immediate Effect of One Session of Whole Body Vibration on Equilibrium Ondices in Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetic neuropathy leads to a reduction in the balance due to peripheral nerves involvement. On the other hand, quantitative studies have shown changes in balance indicators after using the body's entire body vibration. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the changes of equilibrium indices immediately after using the apparatus for whole body vibration in patients with type II diabetic neuropathy.

In the current single-session, single-blind clinical trial study, 32 patients with diabetic neuropathy were divided into two experimental and control groups. Patients in the intervention group, stood on the laser screen of the body's total vibration, with a frequency of 30HZ and an amplitude of 2 mm, knees bent to 30 degrees for six times with a one-minute rest. In the control group, there were patients with the same conditions, but they stood still on the device screen. Patients in both groups were evaluated before and after intervention using Biodex device. Regarding the normal distribution of data, Shapiro-Wilk test was used. Also, t-paired test and covariance analysis were run for further comparisons.

Based on t-paired sample test, general balance (p = 0.000), balance in the anterior-posterior direction (p = 0.000), and balance in side direction (p = 0.033), before and after intervention, revealed significant changes (P = 0.06); however, in the control group, general balance (p = 0.06), balance in the anterior-posterior direction (p = 0.33), and balance in side direction (p = 0.79) were not significantly different compared between pretest and posttest. Comparing the results of the two groups, using independent t-test, general equilibrium (p = 0.000), balance in the anterior-posterior direction (p = 0.000), and bilateral balance (p = 0.027) showed statistically significant differences.

According to the results, the whole body vibration can be effective in improving the balance in the short time.