Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of whole body vibration training program (WBVT) in comparison with conventional training (CT) program on knee proprioception and postural stability after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Methods: Twenty athletes with unilateral ACL reconstruction were randomly assigned in two groups; WBVT and CT, all participants received 12 sessions of WBVT or conventional training. Absolute error in joint repositioning test in two target angles (30° and 60°) with Biodex dynamometer, bilateral dynamic postural stability (anteroposterior, mediolateral and overall stability indices) with Biodex Stability System were measured pre and post intervention.

Results: The improvement of postural stability in the WBVT group was significantly greater than CT group (p ≤ 0.05). The p values of the changing scores of open overall, open anteroposterior, open mediolateral, closed overall, closed anteroposterior and closed mediolateral stability indices were respectively 0.002, 0.010, 0.0001, 0.001, 0.0001, and 0.046. In addition, there were significant differences in all averages of absolute angular error at 60° and 30 ° between WBVT and CT groups in both knees ( p values were respectively 0.001, 0.001, 0.0001 ), with exception , the healthy knees, at 30 ° target position which was not significant ( p = 0.131).

Conclusions: Whole body vibration training improved proprioception and balance in ACL reconstructed athletes. Key Words: Whole body vibration training, Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, Postural stability, Proprioception.