Vibration Preconditioning as a Method to Reduce Hyperemia Responses to Plantar Pressure-Induced Ischemia

Abstract Background: One of the main causes for foot ulcers in diabetics is an excessive, constant load on the foot which over time leads to ischemia. The aim of this study is to explore whether vibration preconditioning can alleviate pressure-induced hyperemia responses in foot tissue.Methods: Fifteen healthy subjects were subjected to compression stimulation with or without vibration preconditioning, determined randomly. Skin blood flow and temperature were measured under the first metatarsal head of the right foot for each subject and compared across the test group.Results: The results showed that both test groups displayed a reactive hyperemia response, but the peak hyperemia was significantly decreased when vibration was used in combination with compression. In the group subjected to compression only (no vibration), the plantar skin temperature during the first minute after compression was significantly higher than the basal temperature, but this was not so when vibration was applied.Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that vibration preconditioning before the application of compression can decrease the degree of reactive hyperemia and alleviate pressure-induced ischemic damage. These findings may be used to develop methods to protect against pressure-induced foot lesions in diabetic people.