OBJECTIVE: To investigate the acute effects of long-term whole-body vibration on leg muscle performance and functional capacity in persons with multiple sclerosis. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS: Twenty-five patients with multiple sclerosis (mean age 47.9 +/- 1.9 years; Expanded Disability Status Scale 4.3 +/- 0.2) were assigned randomly to whole-body vibration training (n = 11) or to a control group (n = 14). METHODS: The whole-body vibration group performed static and dynamic leg squats and lunges on a vibration platform (25 to 45 Hz, 2.5 mm amplitude) during a 20-week training period (5 training sessions per 2-week cycle), and the control group maintained their usual lifestyle. PRE-, MID- (10 weeks) and POST- (20 weeks) knee-muscle maximal isometric and dynamic strength, strength endurance and speed of movement were measured using isokinetic dynamometry. Function was determined through the Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go, Two-minute Walk Test and the Timed 25-Foot Walk Test. RESULTS: Leg muscle performance and functional capacity were not altered following 10 or 20 weeks of whole-body vibration. CONCLUSION: Under the conditions of the present study, the applied 20-week whole-body vibration exercise protocol did not improve leg muscle performance or functional capacity in mild- to moderately impaired persons with multiple sclerosis during and immediately after the training programme.

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