Good vibrations: improving clients’ health and fitness
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Good vibrations: improving clients’ health and fitness

Jeff Bartley Active living co-ordinator (physiotherapy), Learning disability community health team of North Lancashire Primary Care Trust
Francis Fatoye Senior lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University

Jeff Bartley and Francis Fatoye outline the effects of whole-body vibration on walking speed and balance in adults with learning disabilities

The authors conducted a preliminary investigation into the possible effects of whole-body vibration on balance and walking speed in adults with learning disabilities. Participants received 12 seven-minute sessions over four weeks on a Galileo (Advanced Plus) vibration platform. Their balance and walking speeds were examined using the Berg balance scale and the six-minute walk test, and were compared with those of controls. Improvements in walking speed after treatment were observed but the results did not show statistical significance because of confounding factors. Whole-body vibration may improve the fitness, health and wellbeing of people with learning disabilities, but warrants further investigation.

Learning Disability Practice. 15, 9, 25-28. doi: 10.7748/ldp2012.11.15.9.25.c9381

Correspondence

j.bartley@hotmail.co.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Conflict of interest

None declared

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