Low Vibrational Training as an Additional Intervention for Postural Balance, Balance Confidence and Functional Mobility in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Lower Limb Burn Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial

• Main Authors: Ibrahim ZM, Ali OI, Moawd SA, Eid M, Taha MM
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-08-01
• Series: Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity : Targets and Therapy
• Subjects: burn injury; postural balance; vibrational training; functional mobility; resisted exercises.
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/low-vibrational-training-as-an-additional-intervention-for-postural-ba-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DMSO

Zizi M Ibrahim,1,2 Olfat Ibrahim Ali,3 Samah A Moawd,4,5 Marwa M Eid,2,6 Mona Mohamed Taha1,5 1Rehabilitation Sciences Department, College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 3Department of Basic Science for Physical Therapy, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 4Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabi; 5Department of Cardiovascular/Respiratory Disorder and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 6Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Zizi M Ibrahim Email [e-mail]: Burn injury with pre-existing diabetes has poorer outcomes and complications. Balance and functional mobility are disturbed in diabetic patients with burn injury which increase the risk of total morbidity. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the impact of vibrational training as an additional intervention on postural balance, balance confidence and functional mobility in type 2 diabetic patients with lower limb burn injury.Patients and Methods: Thirty-eight type 2 diabetic patients of both sexes with healed lower limb burn were randomly assigned into two equal groups: the vibration group and the control group. The vibration group received whole body vibration (WBV), 3 sessions a week for 8 weeks, in addition to the selected exercise program (balance exercises and resisted exercises), while the control group only received the selected exercise program. Biodex Balance System was used to assess the dynamic balance score, the Activities-specific Balance Scale to assess balance confidence and the timed up and go test to assess the functional mobility. All measurements were obtained before and at the end of the study after 8 weeks of treatment.Results: Marked improvement in all dynamic balance indices; overall stability index, antero-posterior stability index and medio-lateral stability index, balance confidence and the functional mobility were obtained in both the vibration and the control groups (P< 0.05), whereas post-treatment comparison between groups revealed a statistically significant difference in favor of the vibration group in all measured variables.Conclusion: Based on the results of the current study, it is possible to conclude that adding WBV training for an 8-week duration to a selected exercise program (balancing and resisted exercises) seems to be effective; in improving postural balance, balance confidence, as well as improving the functional mobility in type 2 diabetic patients with lower limb burn injury.Keywords: burn injury, postural balance, vibrational training, functional mobility, resisted exercises