Efficacy of localized muscle vibration on lower extremity functional ability in patients with stroke: A randomized controlled trial

Introduction: Lower extremity impairments are commonly affected in patients with stroke. Localized muscle vibration (LMV) incorporates sensory signals to alter cortical excitability. The present study aimed to examine the efficacy of LMV along with conventional physiotherapy (CPT) on lower extremities and activities of daily living (ADL) poststroke. Methods: In total, 37 participants with stroke (mean age: 68.6 ± 9.3) were randomly assigned to either the CPT plus LMV (n = 19) or the CPT group (n = 18). All participants underwent 30-min CPT, three sessions a week, for eight weeks. The participants in the experimental group underwent a 10-min LMV after each CPT session. The primary measure used was the Barthel Index (BI). The secondary measures used were the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), the Manual Muscle Testing (MMT), and the Range of Motion (ROM) evaluation. Results: Thirty-four participants completed the treatment protocol. At the end of the treatment, between-group analysis showed significant differences in knee flexion (MAS) scores, indicating spasticity reduction (P = 0.011, Cohen's d = 0.906) and knee flexion (P = 0.045, Cohen's d = 0.73) and extension (P = 0.013, Cohen's d = 1.013) ROM. Conclusions: CPT can improve the functional outcomes of the hemiplegic lower extremity poststroke. However, using localized muscle vibration may have a superior effect on improving ROM and spasticity. The progress in daily living activities is associated with reductions in spasticity, emphasizing the need for therapists to consider integrating LMV into their rehabilitation protocols to optimize stroke patient outcomes.