Location
Suwanee, GA
Start Date
11-5-2023 1:00 PM
End Date
11-5-2023 4:00 PM
Description
INTRODUCTION: Focal mechanical vibration (FMV) is a type of therapy that involves applying mechanical vibration to a specific body area. It is thought to enhance muscle activation and increase flexibility via the stimulation of muscle spindles. Muscle spindles detect changes in muscle length and trigger reflex contractions in the agonist and reflex relaxation of the antagonist’s muscle via reciprocal inhibition. Additionally, activities paired with FMV may increase lumbar range of motion, decrease pain, and improve lumbar muscle activity in those with low back pain. However, optimal parameters regarding frequency, intensity, and duration of FMV require further investigation. Ultrasound with shear wave elastography (US-SWE) is an emerging technology that may contribute to understanding the mechanism of action associated with FMV and its impact on tissue morphology. The technology quantifies the stiffness or elasticity of soft tissue by measuring the propagation speed of ultrasound-induced shear waves within the tissue. Since muscle stiffness increases with contraction and decreases with relaxation, US-SWE can be used as a surrogate assessment of muscle activation and force.
OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study is to determine if FMV delivered via Vibracool affects erector spinae muscle stiffness, lumbar spine ROM, and self-report of lumbar stiffness assessed via a Likert Scale.
METHODS: The PCOM institutional review board approved this study, and all participants provided informed consent. A convenience sample of three male and seven male students (n=10) was recruited from the PCOM physical therapy department. Participants who self-reported low back stiffness and were healthy participated. Baseline assessment required participants to self-report their perceived low back stiffness via a Likert scale and perform the Schober test to determine lumbar spine ROM, followed by the acquisition of US-SWE images to determine muscle stiffness of the erector spinae in a prone position. A linear transducer was used for US-SWE imaging of bilateral erector spinae musculature, which was placed in the sagittal plane parallel to the most prominent portion of the musculature immediately above the iliac crest, centered on L3 – L5 spinal levels, and manipulated until a clear image of the erector spinae muscle was noted. Three US-SWE images were acquired, and the mean will be used in data analysis. Focal mechanical vibration was then applied via a Vibracool device that delivers constant vibration of 225Hz with an intensity of 7.9 g’s. for 20 minutes with participants in the prone position. All baseline assessments were repeated post-FMV.
RESULTS: Descriptive statistics will be reported, and a repeated measures ANOVA will be completed to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference between the means with a level of significance set at p=.05
CONCLUSION: TBD
Embargo Period
8-29-2023
Included in
Good Vibrations: The Impact of Mechanical Focal Vibration on Erector Spinae Morphology and Lumbar Spine Range of Motion
Suwanee, GA
INTRODUCTION: Focal mechanical vibration (FMV) is a type of therapy that involves applying mechanical vibration to a specific body area. It is thought to enhance muscle activation and increase flexibility via the stimulation of muscle spindles. Muscle spindles detect changes in muscle length and trigger reflex contractions in the agonist and reflex relaxation of the antagonist’s muscle via reciprocal inhibition. Additionally, activities paired with FMV may increase lumbar range of motion, decrease pain, and improve lumbar muscle activity in those with low back pain. However, optimal parameters regarding frequency, intensity, and duration of FMV require further investigation. Ultrasound with shear wave elastography (US-SWE) is an emerging technology that may contribute to understanding the mechanism of action associated with FMV and its impact on tissue morphology. The technology quantifies the stiffness or elasticity of soft tissue by measuring the propagation speed of ultrasound-induced shear waves within the tissue. Since muscle stiffness increases with contraction and decreases with relaxation, US-SWE can be used as a surrogate assessment of muscle activation and force.
OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study is to determine if FMV delivered via Vibracool affects erector spinae muscle stiffness, lumbar spine ROM, and self-report of lumbar stiffness assessed via a Likert Scale.
METHODS: The PCOM institutional review board approved this study, and all participants provided informed consent. A convenience sample of three male and seven male students (n=10) was recruited from the PCOM physical therapy department. Participants who self-reported low back stiffness and were healthy participated. Baseline assessment required participants to self-report their perceived low back stiffness via a Likert scale and perform the Schober test to determine lumbar spine ROM, followed by the acquisition of US-SWE images to determine muscle stiffness of the erector spinae in a prone position. A linear transducer was used for US-SWE imaging of bilateral erector spinae musculature, which was placed in the sagittal plane parallel to the most prominent portion of the musculature immediately above the iliac crest, centered on L3 – L5 spinal levels, and manipulated until a clear image of the erector spinae muscle was noted. Three US-SWE images were acquired, and the mean will be used in data analysis. Focal mechanical vibration was then applied via a Vibracool device that delivers constant vibration of 225Hz with an intensity of 7.9 g’s. for 20 minutes with participants in the prone position. All baseline assessments were repeated post-FMV.
RESULTS: Descriptive statistics will be reported, and a repeated measures ANOVA will be completed to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference between the means with a level of significance set at p=.05
CONCLUSION: TBD