The Clinical Efficacy of Vibration Training in the Treatment of the Elderly with Knee Osteoarthritis

INTERVENTION: Patients performed squatting exercises on a vibrating platform over a 12‐week period (vibration group; n=12); the approximate duration of each vibration session was 15 minutes; the frequency of sessions was 3 times per week; the intensity is increased over the 12 week program; the administered one‐on‐one by a physiotherapist. the range frequency of the vibration platform was 35‐40 Hz ; the training and rest time during the 15 minute sessions was range squats 20‐45 seconds, followed by range of rest 20‐ 45 seconds; the intensity is increased, weekly. CONDITION: Knee Osteoarthritis PRIMARY OUTCOME: Composite Primary outcome: four functional performance tests including the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Timed Get Up and Go Test (TGUG), the Chair Stand Test (CST) and the 6‐Minute Walk Test (6MWT) SECONDARY OUTCOME: self‐report from the patients on the status of their disease, assessed using the Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) INCLUSION CRITERIA: age > 60 years; having been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in a least one knee in accordance with the clinical and radiographic criteria of the American College of Rheumatology with a classification of I, II, III or IV according to the grading scale established by Kellgren and Lawrence; not having suffered any recent knee injury; not requiring a walking aid (walking stick, crutch, walking frame); self‐report of not having been submitted to physiotherapy or any other rehabilitation procedure in the previous three months and not having used glycocorticoids for at least two months prior to initiation of the study.