PURPOSE: To determine the effect of vibration training (VT) on functional ability and falls risk among a group of frail older people admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation unit in a regional hospital in New Zealand. METHOD: A randomized controlled trial of 56 participants (mean 82.01 years in the intervention group and 81.76 years in the control group). VT targeting lower limb muscles with a frequency 30 to 50 Hz occurred three times per week until discharge. Amplitude progressively increased from 2 to 5 mm to allow the programme to be individually tailored to the participant. The control group received usual care physiotherapy sessions. Outcome measures were: Physiological profile assessment (PPA); and Functional Independence measure (FIM) and Modified Falls Efficacy Scale (MFES). RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference observed between the two groups in terms of FIM score (F = 5.09, p = 0.03) and MFES (F = 3.52, p = 0.007) but no difference was observed in terms of PPA scores (F = 0.96, p = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS: Among older people admitted to an inpatient rehabilitation facility there may be some beneficial effect to the use of VT in conjunction with usual care physiotherapy in terms of improved functional ability. The study design and the small dosage of VT provided may have precluded any change in falls risk among participants.

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