Progressive Whole-Body Vertical Vibration with Conventional Rehabilitation for Upper Limb Function and Corticospinal Excitability in Subacute Stroke Patients

Summary

This randomized controlled trial aimed to examine the effects of progressive Whole-Body Vertical Vibration (WBVV) combined with conventional rehabilitation on upper limb motor function and corticospinal tract excitability in subacute stroke patients and to explore potential neurophysiological mechanisms.

Abstract

Stroke often results in upper limb impairment. Although many patients regain independent ambulation, upper limb function recovery remains incomplete, which limits activities of daily living (ADL) and reduces quality of life. Optimizing upper limb rehabilitation strategies continues to represent a major challenge in stroke care. This article presents a randomized controlled trial protocol investigating the effects of progressive WBVV training on upper limb function and corticospinal excitability in subacute stroke patients. Forty-eight subacute stroke patients are allocated to an experimental group (n = 24) and a control group (n = 24). The control group receives conventional rehabilitation training, while the experimental group receives additional progressive WBVV training. This intervention offers the advantages of easy implementation, low energy consumption, and favorable tolerability for subacute stroke patients. The WBVV protocol is gradually intensified over four weeks by adjusting frequency and amplitude. After four weeks of intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in upper limb function, ADL ability and neurophysiological indicators (p < 0.05). The experimental group achieved significantly better outcomes in Fugl–Meyer Assessment of Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and Modified Barthel Index (MBI) scores compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Both groups presented shortened motor evoked potential latency and increased peak-to-peak amplitude, but no significant between-group differences were found in neurophysiological measures (p > 0.05). These findings indicate that WBVV combined with conventional rehabilitation can effectively promote upper limb functional recovery and ADL performance in subacute stroke patients. Further research is required to verify its effects on corticospinal excitability.

Introduction

Stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide¹. In China, the incidence and prevalence of stroke are rising continuously, largely due to population aging and shifting lifestyles, with a growing impact on younger adults². Approximately 80% of stroke survivors experience upper limb dysfunction, which severely restricts their performance of activities of daily living (ADL), impairs quality of life, and imposes a substantial burden on both families and society³. Restoring upper limb function remains a critical research priority and a....

Protocol

Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of Xuzhou Medical University (Approval No.: XYFY2024KL31601), and written informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to enrollment. The trial is registered prospectively in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration No.: ChiCTR2500097167). Forty-eight inpatients diagnosed with stroke are recruited from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between January 2024 and January 2025.

1. Participant inclusion and exclusion criteria

1. Inclusion criteria: Include patients meeting the following....

Results

A total of 48 stroke patients were recruited and randomized into a control group and an experimental group, with 24 participants per group. All patients completed the full course of assessments and interventions, with no loss to follow-up or dropouts reported, and no adverse events related to the intervention (including mild symptoms such as dizziness, local pain, fatigue, or abnormal vital signs) were observed in either group during the 4-week intervention period, demonstrating good safety and clinical tolerability of t.......

Discussion

This study demonstrates that combining WBVV with conventional rehabilitation improves upper limb motor function and activities of daily living in subacute stroke patients, and may indicate a potential improvement in corticospinal tract excitability in this population. The protocol integrates progressive vibration parameters with controlled weight-bearing of the affected upper limb, providing a structured and reproducible stimulation framework.

Previous studies have documented the beneficial ef.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
SPSS Statistics	IBM Corp		version 26.0
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Device	Nanjing Wiss Medical Technology Co., Ltd.		Magneuro R130
Whole-body Vertical Vibration Therapy Device	Taiwan BodyGreen		MF1