Article

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a low-frequency sound wave therapy
programme on functional capacity, blood circulation and bone metabolism of the
frail elderly. DESIGN: Single-blind, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Two
senior service centres. SUBJECTS: Forty-nine volunteers (14 males and 35 females)
aged 62-93 years with up to 12 diagnosed diseases were allocated in either the
intervention group (n = 30) or control group (n = 19). INTERVENTION: The
intervention group underwent sound wave therapy, 3-5 times a week for 30 minutes
per session over a period of 6 months. The control group received no
intervention. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Blood pressure, functional capacity, mobility,
bone density, biochemical markers, isometric muscle strength, balance, and skin
surface temperature. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the intervention
group's mobility and the amount of self-reported kilometres walked per week
increased by 3 km (P<0.05), while levels of cholesterol (4.97 (0.72) to 4.52
(0.65) mmol/L, P =0.019), low-density lipoprotein (2.82 (0.72) to 2.45 (0.61)
mmol/L, P =0.022), bone markers of total osteocalcin (11.0 (6.5) to 10.3 (5.9)
ng/mL, P =0.048)) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (2.50 (1.0)
to 2.41 (1.1) IU/L, P =0.021)) decreased. The average skin surface temperature
was significantly higher during active sessions at the end of the intervention
than in the beginning (P = 0.004). No change was found during placebo sessions.
CONCLUSIONS: Low-frequency sound wave therapy may have the potential to promote
well-being of frail elderly subjects via improved functional capacity, especially
in subjects who are too frail to undertake exercise.

Langue : ANGLAIS