Effects of Whole-Body Vibration in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis.

Acute Effects of Whole-Body Vibration on Pain, Neuromuscular Performance and Gait Quality in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Knee osteoarthritis is a chronic joint disease with an impact on quality of life and an increasing incidence what leads to huge costs and burden on the economy.

The present study investigates immediate effects of whole-body vibration on pain, neuromuscular performance, and gait quality in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Eligible patients (n=20) with knee osteoarthritis grade 2 or 3 on Kallgren Lawrence will complete a 5 minute WBV training and a control condition in a randomized order (cross over design). Pain, maximum strength of the leg flexors and extensors, the chair rise test and gait parameters will be measured directly before and after the intervention/control.

Inclusion Criteria:

• x-ray confirmed knee osteoarthritis (Kallgren-Lawrence 2-3)
• knee pain (NRS 0-10 >2) for 3 months and at least 50% of the last 30 days

Exclusion Criteria:

• contraindications for WBV (acute injuries of the musculoskeletal system, new joint endoprosthesis, pregnancy, acute thrombosis, Epilepsia, cholecystolithiasis, nephrolithiasis, heart pace maker),
• other pathologies affecting gait or neuromuscular performance (rheumatic
• opioid medications, cortisol medications and intraarticular injections in the knee during the ist 3 months.