***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: It is well known that applying vibrations to men influences multiple physiological functions . The authors analysed post effects of whole-body-vibration ( WBV ) on motor symptoms in Parkinson 's disease ( PD ) . Sixty-eight persons with PD were r and omly subdivided into one experimental and one control group . Motor symptoms were assessed by the UPDRS ( Unified Parkinson 's Disease Rating Scale ) motor score . A cross-over design was used to control treatment effects . The treatment consisted of 5 series of whole-body-vibration taking 60 seconds each . On average a highly significant ( p<0.01 ) improvement of 16.8 % in the UPDRS motor score was found in the treatment group . Only marginal changes ( p>0.05 ) were found in the control group . The cross-over procedure showed comparable treatment effects ( 14.7 % improvement after treatment ) . With respect to different symptom clusters only small changes were found in limb akinesia and cranial symptoms . By contrast , tremor and rigidity scores were improved by 25 % and 24 % , respectively . According to the structure of symptom changes it is unlikely that these effects are explainable on peripheral sensory level , exclusively . With respect to the findings of other studies one can speculate about changes in activation of the supplementary motor area and in neurotransmitter functions OBJECTIVE To test the effects of stochastic whole body vibration ( WBV ) we performed a double-blind r and omized controlled study . METHODS Patients were allocated either to the experimental or sham group . The experimental group received 5 cycles of stochastic WBV on three days , each cycle consisting of 5 stimulus trains of 60 seconds duration ( frequency 6.5 Hz ) and 60 seconds resting time between stimuli . Patients allocated to the control group received a sham treatment with 1 Hz .  Unified Parkinson 's Disease Rating Scale , part III ( UPDRSIII ) was performed after treatment at baseline , after the first series on day 1 and on day 5 . RESULTS The reduction of subscores included in UPDRS III relative to baseline served as primary outcome measure . After the five-day course bradykinesia was improved in 14 of 18 patients ( 77.8 % ) and postural stability in 8 of 18 ( 44.4 % ) . Speech and facial expression remained unchanged in both groups . Tremor ( p=0.027 ) and postural stability ( p=0.048 ) showed a reduction also , but did not reached level of significance ( p < 0.01 ) ; UPDRSIII sum score was improved by 26.7 % . CONCLUSION Stochastic whole body vibration may offer a supplementation to canonical physical treatments of PD motor symptoms Objective : To examine whether a whole-body vibration ( mechanical oscillations ) in comparison to a placebo administration leads to better postural control , mobility and balance in patients with multiple sclerosis . Design : Double-blind , r and omized controlled trial . Setting : Outpatient clinic of a university department of physical medicine and rehabilitation . Subjects : Twelve multiple sclerosis patients with moderate disability ( Kurtzke 's Exp and ed Disability Status Scale 2.5 - 5 ) were allocated either to the intervention group or to the placebo group . Interventions : In the intervention group a whole-body vibration at low frequency ( 2.0 - 4.4 Hz oscillations at 3-mm amplitude ) in five series of 1 min each with a 1-min break between the series was applied . In the placebo group a Burst-transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ( TENS ) application on the nondominant forearm in five series of 1 min each with a 1-min break between the series was applied as well . Main outcome measures : Posturographic assessment using the Sensory Organization Test , the Timed Get Up and Go Test and the Functional Reach Test immediately preceding the application , 15 min , one week and two weeks after the application . The statistical analysis was applied to the change score from preapplication values to values 15 min , one week and two weeks post intervention . Results : Compared with the placebo group the intervention group showed advantages in terms of the Sensory Organization Test and the Timed Get Up and Go Test at each time point of measurement after the application . The effects were strongest one week after the intervention , where significant differences for the change score ( p=0.041 ) were found for the Timed Get Up and Go Test with the mean score reducing from 9.2 s ( preapplication ) to 8.2 s one week after whole-body vibration and increasing from 9.5 s ( preapplication ) to 10.2 s one week after placebo application . The mean values of the posturographic assessment increased from 70.5 points ( preapplication ) to 77.5 points one week after whole body vibration and increased only from 67.2 points ( preapplication ) to 67.5 points one week after the placebo application . No differences were found for the Functional Reach Test . Conclusion : The results of this pilot study indicated that whole-body vibration may positively influence the postural control and mobility in multiple sclerosis patients OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on spasticity , muscle strength and motor performance after 8 weeks of whole-body vibration training compared with resistance training in adults with cerebral palsy . METHODS Fourteen persons with spastic diplegia ( 21 - 41 years ) were r and omized to intervention with either whole-body vibration training ( n=7 ) or resistance training ( n=7 ) . Pre- and post-training measures of spasticity using the modified Ashworth scale , muscle strength using isokinetic dynamometry , walking ability using Six-Minute Walk Test , balance using Timed Up and Go test and gross motor performance using Gross Motor Function Measure were performed . RESULTS Spasticity decreased in knee extensors in the whole-body vibration group . Muscle strength increased in the resistance training group at the velocity 30 degrees /s and in both groups at 90 degrees /s . Six-Minute Walk Test and Timed Up and Go test did not change significantly . Gross Motor Function Measure increased in the whole-body vibration group . CONCLUSION These data suggest that an 8-week intervention of whole-body vibration training or resistance training can increase muscle strength , without negative effect on spasticity , in adults with cerebral palsy We investigated spontaneous effects of r and om whole-body vibration ( rWBV ) on postural control in Parkinsonian subjects . Effects were examined in biomechanical tests from a total of 52 patients divided equally into one experimental and one control group . Postural control was tested pre- and post-treatment in two st and ardized conditions ( narrow st and ing and t and em st and ing ) . The intervention was based on rWBV ( y : 3 mm , f : 6 Hz 1 Hz/sec ) consisting of 5 series lasting 60 seconds each . The main findings from this study were that ( 1 ) rWBV can improve postural stability in Parkinson 's disease ( PD ) spontaneously ( 2 ) these effects depend on the test condition . Based on the results of this study , rWBV can be regarded as an additional device in physical therapy in PD Background and Purpose — The long-term effects of 6-weeks whole-body vibration , as a novel method of somatosensory stimulation , on postural control and activities of daily living were compared with those of 6 weeks of exercise therapy on music of the same intensity in the postacute phase of stroke . Methods — Fifty-three patients with moderate to severe functional disabilities were r and omized within 6 weeks poststroke and within 3 days after admission to a rehabilitation center to either whole-body vibration or exercise therapy on music in addition to a regular inpatient rehabilitation program . The whole-body vibration group received 4 × 45-second stimulation on the Galileo 900 ( 30-Hz frontal plane oscillations of 3-mm amplitude ) for 5 days per week during 6 weeks . The exercise therapy on music group received the same amount of exercise therapy on music . Outcome variables included the Berg Balance Scale , Trunk Control Test , Rivermead Mobility Index , Barthel Index , Functional Ambulation Categories , Motricity Index , and somatosensory threshold at 0 , 6 , and 12 weeks follow up . Results — At baseline , both groups were comparable in terms of prognostic factors and outcome measures . Both at 6 and 12 weeks follow up , no clinical ly relevant or statistical differences in outcome were observed between the groups . No side effects were reported . Conclusions — Daily sessions of whole-body vibration during 6 weeks are not more effective in terms of recovery of balance and activities of daily living than the same amount of exercise therapy on music in the postacute phase of stroke In the search of new strategies to improve the quality of life of Parkinson 's disease patients , recent work has reported an amelioration of Parkinsonian symptoms using Whole Body Vibration ( WBV ) . A double-blinded , placebo controlled design was used to evaluate the effect of a 12 WBV sessions-programme on a number of motor and clinical tests in 23 Parkinson 's disease patients . Patients were assigned to one of two groups , one receiving WBV and the other a placebo group . At the end of the programme as well as during intra-session evaluation , there was no difference between the experimental ( vibration ) and placebo groups in any outcomes . These results suggest that reported benefits of vibration are due to a placebo response We explored the effects of r and om whole-body vibration on leg proprioception in Parkinson 's disease ( PD ) . In earlier studies it was found that this treatment leads to improved postural control in these patients . Thus , one could speculate that these effects result from modified proprioceptive capabilities . Twenty-eight PD patients were subdivided in one experimental and one control group . Proprioceptive performance was analyzed using a tracking task basing on knee extension and flexion movements . Treatment consisted of 5 series of r and om whole-body vibration taking 60 seconds each . Control subjects had a rest period instead . Prominent over- and undershooting errors were found in both groups representing proprioceptive impairments . No significant differences became evident , however , either between pre- and post-tests or between experimental and control group . One might therefore conclude that spontaneous improvements in postural control are not directly connected with proprioceptive changes . Nevertheless , one also should keep in mind the general aspects and difficulties of analyzing proprioception The purpose of this r and omized cross-over study was to investigate the effects of a 4-min long , 2-mm vertically-vibrating vibration-exercise on muscle performance and body balance in healthy subjects . Sixteen volunteers ( eight men and women aged 18 - 35 years ) underwent both the 4-min vibration- and sham- interventions in a r and omized order on different days . Performance- and balance-tests ( stability platform , grip strength , extension strength of lower extremities , t and em-walk , vertical jump and shuttle-run ) were done 10 minutes before ( baseline ) and 2 and 60 minutes after the intervention . In addition , the effect of vibration on the surface electromyography ( EMG ) of soleus , vastus lateralis , gluteus medius , and paravertebralis muscles was investigated during the vibration . The 4-min vibration-loading did not induce any statistically significant change in the performance- or balance-tests at the 2- or 60-min tests . Interestingly , however , the mean power frequency of the EMG in the vastus lateralis and gluteus medius muscles decreased during the vibration-intervention , indicating muscle fatigue , particularly in the hip region . It was concluded that a 4-min long , 2-mm vertically-vibrating vibration-stimulus did not induce changes in the performance and balance tests . Future studies should focus on evaluating the effects of different kinds of vibration-regimens , as well as the long-term effects of vibration-training , on body balance and muscle performance , and , as a broader objective , on bone UNLABELLED High-frequency mechanical strain seems to stimulate bone strength in animals . In this r and omized controlled trial , hip BMD was measured in postmenopausal women after a 24-week whole body vibration ( WBV ) training program . Vibration training significantly increased BMD of the hip . These findings suggest that WBV training might be useful in the prevention of osteoporosis . INTRODUCTION High-frequency mechanical strain has been shown to stimulate bone strength in different animal models . However , the effects of vibration exercise on the human skeleton have rarely been studied . Particularly in postmenopausal women-who are most at risk of developing osteoporosis-r and omized controlled data on the safety and efficacy of vibration loading are lacking . The aim of this r and omized controlled trial was to assess the musculoskeletal effects of high-frequency loading by means of whole body vibration ( WBV ) in postmenopausal women . MATERIAL S AND METHODS Seventy volunteers ( age , 58 - 74 years ) were r and omly assigned to a whole body vibration training group ( WBV , n = 25 ) , a resistance training group ( RES , n = 22 ) , or a control group ( CON , n = 23 ) . The WBV group and the RES group trained three times weekly for 24 weeks . The WBV group performed static and dynamic knee-extensor exercises on a vibration platform ( 35 - 40 Hz , 2.28 - 5.09 g ) , which mechanically loaded the bone and evoked reflexive muscle contractions . The RES group trained knee extensors by dynamic leg press and leg extension exercises , increasing from low ( 20 RM ) to high ( 8 RM ) resistance . The CON group did not participate in any training . Hip bone density was measured using DXA at baseline and after the 6-month intervention . Isometric and dynamic strength were measured by means of a motor-driven dynamometer . Data were analyzed by means of repeated measures ANOVA . RESULTS No vibration-related side effects were observed . Vibration training improved isometric and dynamic muscle strength ( + 15 % and + 16 % , respectively ; p < 0.01 ) and also significantly increased BMD of the hip 
    Output:
    
Overall , studies demonstrated mixed results in favor of WBV for improving balance or mobility .
The majority of studies seem to suggest a favorable benefit following WBV for mobility and balance , but not when compared to other active intervention or placebo .