How whole-body vibration can help our COPD patients. Physiological changes at different vibration frequencies

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic, clinical, and descriptive functional characteristics at baseline

Characteristics of patients with COPD (n=32)	Mean	SD
Anthropometric variables
Age, years	68.1	6.9
BMI, kg/m^2	26.3	4.1
Lung function
FVC, %	61.8	11.9
FEV1, %	39.7	3.4
FEV1/FVC, %	48.6	15.7
MIP (cm H2O), %	68.5	14,1
MEP (cm H2O), %	95.4	20.2
Functional capacity, 6MWT
Meters walked	347	35
Maximum oxygen desaturation, %	89.7	5.0
Borg scale	8.4	1.2
BODE index score	4.5	1.3
CAT score	15.3	7.2
Anxiety HADS	7.1	3.4
Depression HADS	8.5	2.4

Abbreviations: 6MWT, 6-minute walk test; BMI, body mass index; BODE, BMI, obstruction, dyspnea exercise; CAT, COPD assessment test; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; FEV₁, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; FVC, forced vital capacity; HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; MEP, maximum expiratory pressure; MIP, maximum inspiratory pressure; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Differences in the cardiac, metabolic, and ventilatory variables in relation to the frequency of training with the vibratory platform

Variables	WBV			Difference
	0 Hz	25 Hz	35 Hz (ref)	25 vs 35 Hz	0 vs 35 Hz
	Meana (95% CI)	Meana (95% CI)	Meana (95% CI)	Changeb (95% CI)	Changeb (95% CI)
VO2/HR (mL/beat)	5.69 (5.08, 6.38)	5.93 (5.31, 6.62)	6.38 (5.71, 7.12)	−7.01% (−13.94, 0.47)	−10.72%* (−17.83, −2.98)
Heart rate (bpm)	99.6 (95.1, 104.1)	101.5 (97.1, 105.8)	104.0 (99.6, 108.3)	−2.51 (−5.47, 0.44)	−4.39* (−7.53, −1.24)
VO2 (mL/min)	563.5 (513.4, 618.5)	591.3 (540.0, 647.3)	651.5 (594.9, 713.4)	−9.24%* (−14.56, −3.59)	−13.5%** (−18.84, −7.81)
VCO2 (mL/min)	603.4 (546.7, 665.9)	605.3 (550.5, 665.6)	633.4 (576.1, 696.5)	−4.44% (−11.29, 2.94)	−4.75% (−11.99, 3.1)
Vt BTPS (mL)	1,036.6 (954.5, 1,125.7)	1,060.3 (978.8, 1,148.6)	1,059.4 (977.8, 1,147.7)	0.09% (−5.39, 5.89)	−2.15% (−7.82, 3.87)
VE BTPS (L/min)	25.1 (22.7, 27.8)	25.3 (22.9, 27.9)	27.8 (25.2, 30.6)	−8.89%* (−14.21, −3.24)	−9.43%* (−15.05, −3.45)
RR (br/min)	24.3 (22.0, 26.9)	23.91 (21.6, 26.4)	26.0 (23.6, 28.7)	−8.29%* (−13.03, −3.28)	−6.55%* (−11.73, −1.08)

Notes:

a Adjusted mean (for heart rate) and geometric mean (for log-transformed outcomes) estimated by linear mixed-effects models with repeated measures, and adjusting for baseline values;

b coefficient (for heart rate) or relative change;

* P<0.05;

** P<0.001.

Abbreviations: br/min, breaths per minute; BTPS, body temperature and pressure saturated; CI, confidence interval; RR, respiratory rate; VCO₂, carbon dioxide output; V_E, volume of expired gas; VO₂, oxygen uptake;VO₂/HR, oxygen pulse response; V_t, tidal volume; WBV, whole-body vibration.

Figure 1 Description of cardiac variables at rest and at different training frequencies.

Notes: The VO₂/HR in mL/beat, cardiac or heart rate in bpm. ref = reference category; *P-value <0.05 versus 35 Hz (ref).
Abbreviations: VO₂/HR, oxygen pulse response; WBV, whole-body vibration.

Figure 2 Description of metabolic variables at rest and at different training frequencies.

Notes: VO₂ in mL/min and VCO₂ in mL/min. ref = reference category; *P-value <0.05 versus 35 Hz (ref).
Abbreviations: VCO₂, carbon dioxide output; VO₂, oxygen uptake; WBV, whole-body vibration.

Figure 3 Description of ventilatory variables at rest and at different training frequencies.

Notes: V_t in mL, V_E in L/min, and RR, in breathing per minute (br/min). ref = reference category; *P-value <0.05 versus 35 Hz (ref).
Abbreviations: br/min, breaths per minute; RR, respiratory rate; V_E, volume of expired gas; V_t, tidal volume; WBV, whole-body vibration.