The effects of vibratory stimulation employed to forearm and arm flexor muscles on upper limb function in patients with chronic stroke.
Sang-Mi Jung
PMID 28932001WHAT IT FOUND
Vibration to the affected biceps and wrist flexor was followed by higher grip strength and Box and Block Test scores, while sensory scores changed little in 10 people with hemiplegia after stroke, without a control group.
Key findings
01Grip strength scores were 11.4 ± 5.4 at pre-test, 13.4 ± 6.9 at post-test, and 12.6 ± 6.3 at follow-up.
02Box and Block Test scores were 13.3 ± 8.2 at pre-test, 17.1 ± 8.5 at post-test, and 15.1 ± 8.3 at follow-up.
03Sensory scores in mm were 3.9 ± 0.8 at pre-test, 3.6 ± 0.7 at post-test, and 3.8 ± 0.8 at follow-up.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study had only 10 participants and no control group, so the paper does not show what would have happened without vibration. The aim was to look at change within the experimental group, not to compare vibration with another condition. Participants had to be able to grasp and score above 24 on the Mini Mental State Examination, so people with more severe hand or cognitive problems were not represented. Follow-up was only two weeks, so the paper does not report longer-term change.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude vibration caused the score changes. The study had 10 participants in one group and no control group, so the paper does not show what would have happened without vibration.