A randomized controlled trial was conducted to clarify the benefiial effect of whole
body vibration (WBV) exercise plus squat training on body balance, muscle power, and walking
ability in the elderly with knee osteoarthritis and/or spondylosis. Of 35 ambulatory patients (14 men
and 21 women) who were recruited at our outpatient clinic, 28 (80.0%, 12 men and 16 women)
participated in the trial. The subjects (mean age 72.4 years) were randomly divided into two groups
(n=14 in each group), ie, a WBV exercise alone group and a WBV exercise plus squat training
group. A 4-minute WBV exercise (frequency 20 Hz) was performed 2 days per week in both
groups; squat training (20 times per minute) was added during the 4-minute WBV training session
in the WBV exercise plus squat training group. The duration of the trial was 6 months. The exercise
and training program was safe and well tolerated. WBV exercise alone improved indices of body
balance and walking velocity from baseline values. However, WBV exercise plus squat training was
more effective for improving tandem gait step number and chair-rising time compared with WBV
exercise alone. These results suggest the benefi and safety of WBV exercise plus squat training for
improving physical function in terms of body balance and muscle power in the elderly.