Date of Award

2016-01-01

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Kinesiology

Advisor(s)

Feng Yang

Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease that affects the central nervous system. The most common symptoms of MS are loss of mobility and thus restricted independence. The purpose of this study was to inspect the effects of an 8-week CWBV training course in modifying the disability status and functional mobility among people with MS (PwMS). Twenty-five participants diagnosed with MS (mean ± SD age: 50.3 ± 14.1 years; body height: 165.4 ± 9.2 cm; body mass: 73.9 ± 14.1 kg; disease duration: 15.3 ± 10.5 years; 18 females) participated in this study to experience an 8-week training intervention on a side-alternating vibration platform. Participants received the training three times weekly for eight weeks, totally 24 training sessions. Each training session consisted of five bouts of 1­min vibration exposure followed by a 1­min rest period. The vibration frequency and amplitude were respectively set at 20 Hz and 1.3 mm. The disability level quantified by the MS Functional Composite (MSFC) and Patient Determined Disability Steps (PDDS) and mobility characterized by gait spatiotemporal parameters. The results indicated that participants’ MSFC score was significantly increased at the post-training test in comparison with the pre-training test (0.00 ± 0.62 vs. 0.36 ± 0.68, p = 0.0001). The PDDS score reduced significantly from the pre-training to the post-training evaluation (3.66 ± 1.88 vs. 3.05 ± 1.99, p = 0.011). There were significant improvements in the gait speed (0.64 ± 0.32 vs. 0.71 ± 0.32 bh/s, p = 0.0002) and the double stance time (0.18 ± 0.12 vs. 0.15 ± 0.10 sec, p = 0.014). The step frequency (107.50 ± 29.35 vs. 112.33 ± 27.43 steps/min, p = 0.067) and the step length (0.37 ± 0.10 vs. 0.39 ± 0.11 bh, p = 0.053) displayed marginal improvements from pre- to post-training evaluations. Based on the results from this study, CWBV program could serve as an encouraging alternative exercise intervention among PwMS to reduce their disability level and improve functional mobility.

Language

en

Provenance

Received from ProQuest

File Size

82 pages

File Format

application/pdf

Rights Holder

Edson F. Estrada

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