Applied Sciences (Mar 2020)

Effect of the Combined Intervention with Passive Whole-Body Vibration and Auriculotherapy on the Quality of Life of Individuals with Knee Osteoarthritis Assessed by the WHOQOL-Bref: A Multi-Arm Clinical Trial

  • Marcia Cristina Moura-Fernandes,
  • Eloá Moreira-Marconi,
  • Alexandre Gonçalves de Meirelles,
  • Ana Paula Ferreira de Oliveira,
  • Aline Reis Silva,
  • Luiz Felipe Ferreira de Souza,
  • Adriana Lírio Pereira da Silva,
  • Carmen dos Santos-Fernandes,
  • Bruno Bessa Monteiro de Oliveira,
  • Marco Antonio de Souza Gama,
  • Maria Eduarda de Souza Melo-Oliveira,
  • Eliane de Oliveira Guedes de Aguiar,
  • Liszt Palmeira de Oliveira,
  • Alan de Paula Mozella,
  • Danúbia da Cunha de Sá-Caputo,
  • Laisa Liane Paineiras-Domingos,
  • Mario José dos Santos Pereira,
  • Vinicius Layter Xavier,
  • Ana Cristina Rodrigues Lacerda,
  • Vanessa Amaral Mendonça,
  • Borja Sañudo,
  • Redha Taiar,
  • Mario Bernardo-Filho

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/app10061956
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 6
p. 1956

Abstract

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The aim of this study was to determine the effect on the quality of life of two non-pharmacological interventions isolated or in combination: (i) passive whole-body vibration exercise (WBVE), and (ii) auriculotherapy (AT). One hundred three participants with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) were allocated to: (a) a vibration group (WBVEG; n = 17) that performed WBVE (peak-to-peak displacement: 2.5 to 7.5 mm, frequency: 5 to 14 Hz, Peak acceleration: 0.12 to 2.95 g), two days/weekly for five weeks, (b) an AT group (ATG; n = 21), stimulation of three specific auriculotherapy points (Kidney, Knee and Shenmen) in each ear pavilion, (c) WBVE + AT (WBVE + AT; n = 20) and (d) respective control groups (WBVE_CG, n = 15; AT_CG, n = 12; WBVE + AT_CG, n = 18). The participants filled out the WHOQOL-bref Questionnaire before the first and after the last sessions. Statistical differences in the various domains of the WHOQOL-bref were not found. In conclusion, WBVE or AT alone or combined did not contribute in altering the quality of life of individuals exposed to these interventions.

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