Article

The aim of the study was to determine the proportion of body weight
borne through the lower limbs in persons with complete motor paraplegia using a
standing frame, with and without the support of their arms. We also examined the
effect of low-magnitude whole-body vibration on loads borne by the lower limbs.
DESIGN: Vertical ground reaction forces (GRFs) were measured in 11 participants
(six men and five women) with paraplegia of traumatic origin (injury level
T3-T12) standing on a low-magnitude vibrating plate using a standing frame. GRFs
were measured in four conditions: (1) no vibration with arms on standing frame
tray, (2) no vibration with arms at side, (3) vibration with arms on tray, and
(4) vibration with arms at side. RESULTS: GRF with arms on tray, without
vibration, was 0.76 +/- 0.07 body weight. With arms at the side, GRF increased to
0.85 +/- 0.12 body weight. With vibration, mean GRF did not significantly differ
from no-vibration conditions for either arm positions. Oscillation of GRF with
vibration was significantly different from no-vibration conditions (P < 0.001)
but similar in both arm positions. CONCLUSIONS: Men and women with paraplegia
using a standing frame bear most of their weight through their lower limbs.
Supporting their arms on the tray reduces the GRF by approximately 10% body
weight. Low-magnitude vibration provided additional oscillation of the
load-bearing forces and was proportionally similar regardless of arm position.

Langue : ANGLAIS