Whole-body vibration therapy (WBVT), in which energy produced by a forced oscillation is transferred to the muscle and bone of an individual from a mechanical vibration platform, has been proposed as an alternative or adjunctive intervention for osteoporosis. In this review, the safety, effectiveness and the biomechanics of WBVT for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis were discussed.

Virtual reality (VR) offers the possibility of creating an interactive, motivating environment in which training intensity and feedback can be manipulated to provide individualized treatments or motor rehabilitation under a range of stimulus conditions that are not easily controllable and quantifiable in the real world, especially in elderly. This paper reviewed the studies illustrating the application, development and effectiveness of VR on rehabilitation in the elderly, that suggested VR may be useful to augment rehabilitation of a range of disabilities in elderly patients. The prospect of VR is discussed as well.

Whole-body vibration (WBV) training is a kind of new technology on the practice of rehabilitation medicine and is used to improve muscle strength, mobility, balance, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, metabolic syndrome and osteoarthritis in aging adults. The definition, safety, effectiveness, and biomechanics of WBV training were reviewed in this paper.

Hand-grip strength is an important assessment of strength of upper extremity, which also can predict the clinical outcomes, such as postoperative complications, mortality, and disability and so on, especially for the elderly population. This article would review the advance of study on the measurement of grip strength, the norms and the application in elderly in recent years.

BACKGROUND: To assess the balance function of post-stoke patients would be conducive to establish rehabilitative goal and to set up therapeutic plan.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between parameters of three commonly used measures and those of other functional evaluation for patients with post-stroke hemiplegia.DESIGN: Analysis of the relationship between parameters of balance rating scales.SETTING: At otolaryngology department and rehabilitative medicine department of the general military hospital.PARTICIPANTS: From September 2002 to July 2003, totally 57 patients with post-stroke hemiplegia, 45 males and 12 females, aged from 14 to 78years old, with the course of disease ranged from 0. 3 to 11 months, received rehabilitative treatment at rehabilitative department of the general military hospital, were selected to take part in the study. All were confirmed of internal carotid artery system lateral hemispheric disease.METHODS: Three balance measures, namely Berg balance scale, modified Balance subscale of the Fugl-Meyer test and Postural assessment scale for stroke patients were administered on 57 patients for evaluating their lower limb motor function, daily life capability and walking ability after rehabilitative treatments. The relationship between three measures was analyzed with Pearson-correlative analysis, and the relationship between three measures and lower limb motor function, daily life capability and walking ability were also investigated.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① relationship between three measures;② relationship between three measures and lower limb motor function, daily life capability and walking ability.RESULTS: The data from 57 stroke hemiplegic patients was analyzed without missing. ① Scores for Berg balance assessment, Fugl-Meyer balance rating scale and posture controlling scale for stroke patients was 46.70 ± 5. 15, 10. 26 ± 1.58 and 32.56 ± 2.06, respectively, and the scores of lower limb motor function in Fugl-Meyer assessment was 22. 35 ± 5.82,and moving and marching item in functional independence assessment 24.95 ± 5.2, 10 m maximum walking speed(49.06 ±24.68) m/s. The three measures were proved of significantly higher consistency( r = 0.613-0. 766,P ＜ 0.001 ). ② The three measures were also found to be obviously associated with the lower limb motor function, daily life capability and walking ability of patients with stroke( r = 0. 479-0. 718, P ＜ 0. 001 ).CONCLUSION: Berg balance assessment, modified Fugl-Meyer balance rating scale and posture-controlling scale have been proved of higher consistency and efficacy for assessing the balance function of post-stroke patients, thereby can be used as predictor for the balance functional outcomes,as well as the recovery of the lower limb motor function, daily life capability and walking ability of post-stroke patients.

Frailty is a physiological state of nonspecific vulnerability to stressors resulting from decreased physiological reserves and the deregulation of multiple physiological systems associated with advancing age. Frailty is more than an association with specific diseases or disabilities, but rather a systemic manifestation of physical and cognitive deficits, including signs, symptoms, illnesses, and impairments, that accumulate over the life course. This paper reviewed the studies illustrating the concept, evaluation, risk factor and application of frailty on rehabilitation.

ObjectiveTo determine whether the Chinese version of 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) can be taken as an effective assessment to evaluate the quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods30 patients with knee osteoarthritis were tested twice in 3 d with the Chinese version SF-36 by two standard-trained testers. The Cronbach's α coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were investigated. ResultsThe ICC of total scores and parts scores in the Chinese version SF-36 were 0.54～0.91, while the Cronbach's α coefficients were 0.70～0.95. ConclusionThe Chinese version SF-36 is reliable in evaluating the quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

ObjectiveTo identify the probability for outdoor walking independency using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the maximum walking speed （MWS） in stroke patients. Methods80 hemiparetic stroke patients were classified into 2 groups: the independency group and the non-independency group. They were assessed with the BBS and the 10 m MWS. ResultsWith the discriminant analysis, the BBS and the 10 m MWS could identify the independency and non-independency group，hit rate 88.8%. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves suggested the cut-off point 49.5, sensitivity 86.2%; specificity 78.4%, area under ROC curve 0.905 in BBS; while cut-off point 1.0 m/s, sensitivity 93.1%, specificity 90.2%, area under ROC curve 0.961 in MWS. ConclusionBBS and the MWS can identify the outdoor walking independency sensitively and specifically in stroke patients.

ObjectiveTo determine the test-retest reliability of active static and dynamic balance ability with the KorebalanceTM System in elderly people.Methods20 ambulatory elderly persons who can walk self-helping participated in this study. Measurements were performed through KorebalanceTM System for active static and dynamic balance ability. All tests were repeated 7 d after the initial test, the intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to determine the test-retest reliability of each balance test.ResultsThe ICC indicated that active static and dynamic test had good reliability （ICC=0.804～0.923）.ConclusionThe KorebalanceTM System had good reliability in active static and dynamic balance test.

Objective To evaluate the difference in isokinetic strength of the knee muscles between knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients aged 80 years and over and matched healthy controls,and to establish the association of isokinetic strength with pain and functional status in patients with KOA.Methods The study enrolled 32 patients aged 80 and over diagnosed with unilateral knee OA and 10 matched controls.Pain was evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS),the pain intensity scale and the Lequesne index for patients with knee OA.Functional status was assessed by the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT),the Five Times Sit to Stand Test (FTSST) and the Timed 10 Meter Walk Test (TWT).Muscle strength was measured using the isokinetic dynamometer Biodex System 4 Pro.Bilateral isokinetic (concentric) knee flexion and extension with the protocol of 60 degrees/sec,180 degrees/sec was also performed.Results The difference in two angular velocities of extensor and flexor peak torques between the knee OA group and the control group was statistically significant (t=2.747,P＜ 0.05).The extensor peak torque was negatively correlated with age,Liquesce index scores,FTSST,TUGT and TWT (r=-0.39～～-0.75,P＜0.05),but had no correlation with the VAS score or the Lequesne index pain score (r=-0.23～ 0.31,P＞0.05).The regression analysis results suggested that the extensor peak torque and the VAS score together were important predictors for the Liquesce index (adjusted R2 =0.41).Conclusions The degree of knee muscle damage is closely related to the functional performance of the muscles in knee OA patients aged 80 years or over.The strength of the quadriceps and the intensity of pain are important predictors of disability for those patients.