Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania | [b] Preclinical Research Laboratory of Medicinal Products, Institute of Cardiology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania | [c] Institute of Mechatronics, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania | [d] Ave Vita Medical Center, Kaunas, Lithuania
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Mantas Venslauskas, Institute of Mechatronics, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas, Lithuania. Tel.: +370 67237035; E-mail: mantas.venslauskas@ktu.lt.
Abstract: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that manifests as a various movement disorders: tremor, rigidity and postural instability. These dysfunctions can significantly impact the individual’s quality of life, leading to a decline in overall well-being. However, recent innovations in medical devices field promise additional methods to alleviate PD symptoms. The VILIM Ball is a local hand-arm stimulation device that generates mechanical vibrations within the frequency range of 8–18 Hz. It was shown in this study that Parkinson’s disease patients (PD) may experience enhanced upper limb functionality and reduction in tremor power through physiotherapy in conjunction to therapy with VILIM Ball device. A total of 24 participants were recruited and divided into two groups: the control group (N= 12) underwent physiotherapy alone, while the experimental group (N= 12) received physiotherapy in combination with the VILIM Ball. Hand coordination, tremor power, and the right-hand grip strength before and after interventions were assessed to quantify the effects of the interventions. The right-hand tremor power decreased by an average of 7.38% for the control group and by an average of 48.11% for the experimental group. The left-hand tremor power increased by 3.89% for the control group and decreased by the 30.23% for the experimental group. There were no significant changes in the right-hand grip strength after the interventions. These findings indicate that the local hand-arm vibration provided by the VILIM Ball in conjunction to physiotherapy can benefit patients more than the physiotherapy alone.
Keywords: Parkinson’s disease, physiotherapy, VILIM ball, tremor
