Disclosures: WONJAE JO, MD: No financial relationships or conflicts of interest

Case Description: Orthostatic hypotension is a distressing and troublesome disorder in SCI. Therefore, prevention of orthostatic hypotension in SCI patients is very important.

Setting: A tilt table angle at which they began to show orthostatic hypotension symptoms was measured before treatment. After that, tilt table with whole body vibration treatment was applied for 20 minutes at an angle that orthostatic hypotension symptoms began to appear. A vibration frequency was 10 Hz and amplitude was 4.0 mm. Ten treatment sessions were given for 2 weeks. The angle that patients can perform at the tilt table without any symptoms were evaluated pre-treatment and post-treatment.

Patient: Inclusion criteria were cervical spinal cord injury patients with orthostatic hypotension symptoms above a certain angle at the tilt table. Participants were excluded if they had any condition, such as severe hip or knee flexion contractures >30°, and/or uncontrolled autonomic dysreflexia.

Assessment/Results: Five participants A) 35-year-old female, neurological level of injury C2, ASIA B by American Spinal Injury Association/International Spinal Cord Society(ASIA/ISCOS), B) 61-year-old male, neurological level of injury C3, ASIA A, C) 55-year-old male, neurological level of injury C5, ASIA A, D) 42-year-old male, neurological level of injury C4, ASIA A, E) 75 year-old male, neurological level of injury C5, ASIA D complete the intervention. In all patients, the tilt table angle was increased after treatment and there was no symptom at the pre-treatment angle. Patient A had an angle of 35 degrees before treatment and improved to 80 degrees after treatment.(35 → 80), B(40 → 65), C(70 → 85), D(50 → 80), E(45 → 70).

Discussion: Tilt table with whole body vibration therapy in adults with SCI might help prevent symptoms of orthostatic hypotension.

Conclusion: Tilt table with whole body vibration therapy in adults with SCI might help prevent symptoms of orthostatic hypotension.

Level of Evidence: Level V

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PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/the-prevention-effect-of-whole-body-vibration-on-orthostatic-hypotension-in-sci-patients/