Abstract:Objective To determine the effect of low-frequency whole-body vibration training (WBVT) at sitting position on muscle strength and walking ability of the elderly patients with lower limb disability. Methods Twenty elderly patients with lower limb disability (due to accidents, at a disable class of 42-44) who were volunteered to our study were recruited. They were 9 males and 11 females, at an age of (66.6±4.8)years. They all received WBVT at sitting position for 3 d per week, totally 8 weeks. Flexion and extensor strengths of the knee joint, 6-min walking test (6 MWT), 10-meter walking test (10 MWT) and timed up and go (TUG) test were measured before and after the training, and the results were compared. SPSS statistics 22.0 was used to perform the statistical analysis. Paired t test was employed for the comparison of the data before and after training. Results All the subjects successfully completed the training and measurement, and no loss, discomfortableness, or unsafe conditions occurred. After the training, knee flexion [(39.36±16.09) vs (37.37±16.12) Nm] and extension muscles strengths [(58.18±21.31) vs (56.49±21.69) Nm] were increased, while the results of TUG [(7.73±2.17) vs (9.70±2.22) s] and 10 MWT [(7.51±2.26) vs (7.86±2.30) s] were decreased, and that of 6 MWT [(438.74±125.10) vs (401.99±114.08) m] was elevated, with significant differences in all these data (P<0.05). Conclusion WBVT at sitting position for 8 weeks can obviously promote the flexion and extension muscles strengths of the knee joint, and improve the balance and speed of walking in the elderly with lower limb disability.