Source: This article reports on new data from a clinical trial, "The Role of VibraPlus on Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial."
For individuals living with multiple sclerosis (MS), fatigue is often one of the most debilitating symptoms, severely impacting daily life and hindering participation in social and family activities. While traditional exercise has long been recommended to combat this pervasive exhaustion, new clinical trial data suggest that vibration therapy offers a promising and potentially superior approach. Patients undergoing this innovative therapy reported significant reductions in fatigue, alongside notable gains in cognitive and motor functions—benefits not observed in those relying solely on standard physical exercise.
Fatigue in MS is characterized by overwhelming exhaustion that isn't relieved by rest, making simple tasks incredibly challenging. While conventional physical exercise helps, researchers have also been exploring sensory-based therapies. Vibration therapy is a non-invasive method that uses gentle mechanical waves to stimulate muscles and nerves, sending vibrations through the skin to activate muscles, improve coordination and balance, and reduce physical effort.
Italian researchers conducted a clinical trial (NCT05783999) involving 40 MS patients experiencing evident fatigue and moderate disability. Participants were randomly assigned to either a vibration therapy group or a control group receiving a standard exercise program of aerobic and resistance training.
Initially, the vibration therapy group showed higher levels of fatigue and disability, performing worse on mobility and cognitive tests than the control group. However, after seven weeks of intervention, the results were compelling:
Significant Fatigue Reduction: Participants in the vibration therapy group reported feeling less fatigued, with Visual Analogue Scale scores decreasing from 7.7 to 6.5.
Improved Balance and Mobility: Balance, measured by the Berg Balance Scale, improved from an average of 42.8 to 47.5 (scores below 45 indicate increased fall risk). Functional mobility also enhanced, evidenced by quicker times in the Timed Up and Go test (e.g., dropping from 14.3 to 11.9 seconds on the right side).
Enhanced Walking Endurance: Distances covered in six minutes increased from 263.6 meters to 285.9 meters.
Cognitive Gains: Notably, vibration therapy recipients showed significant improvements in long-term memory, memory recall, and information processing speed. In contrast, the control group only improved in auditory information processing speed.
While the trial demonstrated clear benefits, the researchers noted that the exact mechanism by which vibration therapy achieves these effects is "unclear" and "under investigation." The therapy in this trial involved a handheld device applying vibrations to lower limb muscles with small silicone applicators. Each 30-minute session consisted of short bursts of vibration followed by rest, performed three times a week over the seven weeks.
These findings are crucial as they add to the limited existing literature on vibration treatment for MS. The researchers highlighted that this therapy not only reduces motor impairment and fatigue (both motor and non-motor) but also "facilitates socialization and decreases limitation due to physical and emotional problems, promoting a better perception of one’s own [quality of life]."
Looking ahead, the researchers suggest that future efforts should focus on assessing the long-term effectiveness of vibration therapy and its integration into a comprehensive, multimodal rehabilitation approach for MS patients.