Beneficial effects of whole body mechanical vibration alone or combined with auriculotherapy in the pain and in flexion of knee of individuals with knee osteoarthritis

Purpose: to study the effect of whole body mechanical vibration (WBMV) exercise alone or combined with auriculotherapy (AT) in the pain and in the range of movement of the knees of participants with knee osteoarthritis. Authors have reported that these interventions can reduce the pain and increase the muscle strength in various clinical situations. Materials and Methods: The level of pain was evaluated by the visual analogue scale and the range of movement of the knees by goniometry. In five weeks protocols, in the AT intervention, ear points (Shenmen, Kidney, corresponding point-Knee) were stimulated by two seeds (Semen vaccariae), approximated diameter of 1 mm that were previously in an adhesive tape and they were changed every week. The control group had no seeds in the ear's lobe adhesive tape. All the participants were instructed to use the fingers to press (manually) the adhesive tapes for 10 min, three times per day (six days) and to remove the tapes (7th day) before returning to the laboratory. In WBMV intervention, the biomechanical parameters of the mechanical vibration were (i) peak-to-peak displacement (D) with 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mm and (ii) frequency ranging from 5 Hz on the first day, increasing by 1 Hz per session, ending with 14 Hz in the last session. The working time was 3 min with 1 min of rest. The evaluations were performed (i) before and after the first session (acute effect) and (ii) before the first (5 Hz) and after the last (14 Hz) session (cumulative effect). Results: A significant (p<0.05) decrease of the level of pain in the participants with knee osteoarthritis treated with WBMV exercise and with the combined intervention (WBMV and AT) was found in the acute and cumulative effects. The pain was importantly reduced due to WBMV exercise alone about 50% and reduced about 16% in the combination with AT, in the acute intervention. In the cumulative intervention, the pain was strongly reduced about 60% due to WBMV exercise alone and about 37% in the combination with AT. Possibility, this decrease in the effect may be related to inhibitory/competitive actions of the two interventions. In the control groups, no alteration on the level of the pain was observed. The range of the movement (knee´s flexion) was not altered in the participants of the all groups. Conclusion: It is possible to conclude that the level of the pain was decreased (acute and cumulative effects), with both interventions, WBMV exercise alone or combined with AT, However, more studies are need to widespread the use of these forms of treatment.