Low-Intensity Vibration to Reduce Symptoms and Improve Physical Functioning in Cancer Survivors With Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Pilot Randomized Trial

PURPOSE – Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) can have deleterious effects on mobility and quality of life in people with cancer. Vibration therapy shows promise as a CIPN intervention but is understudied. We investigated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of low-intensity vibration (LIV) in cancer survivors with CIPN.METHODS – We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial in adult cancer survivors with persistent CIPN symptoms. Participants were randomly assigned to twice-daily LIV sessions (10 min/session; 30 Hz, 0.4 g) for 12 weeks or usual care (UC). We assessed feasibility by accrual, retention, adherence, and adverse event (AE) reporting. We evaluated preliminary efficacy by changes in patient-reported CIPN symptoms (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group Neurotoxicity), pain (Brief Pain Inventory), fatigue (Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Fatigue), and physical functioning (Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument) and objectively measured physical functioning (chair stand time, gait speed), stability (postural sway), and mobility (Timed-Up-and-Go). Linear regression models were used to generate effect size estimates (Cohen's d).RESULTS – We accrued 95% of our target sample (n = 38, mean age: 62.6 ± 9.9 years, 89% female, median time since chemotherapy completion: 18 [6-39] months), with 20 participants randomly assigned to LIV and 18 to UC. Trial retention was 97% and mean adherence to LIV was 77% ± 18%. There were no serious AEs. Compared with UC, LIV participants reported greater improvements in sensory neuropathy symptoms (LIV, +1.4 ± 3.3 points; UC, +0.2 ± 2.8 points; Cohen's d = 0.45) and basic lower extremity function (LIV, +5.3 ± 8.5 points; UC, –0.7 ± 9.2 points; Cohen's d = 0.80), with moderate-to-large effect sizes for changes in stability, mobility, and gait (Cohen's d = 0.60-0.66).CONCLUSION – LIV is safe, feasible, and shows preliminary efficacy for CIPN symptom relief and improving physical functioning in cancer survivors with CIPN.