Effects of whole-body vibration on balance and mobility in institutionalized older adults: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

The exercise program was effective in improving lower limb strength among institutionalized older adults but adding whole-body vibration did not enhance its effect. Whole-body vibration may improve balance confidence without enhancing actual balance performance.

Long-Term Effects of Whole-Body Vibration on Human Gait: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The sample size ranged from 14 to 159 participants, with a mean age of 60.9 ± 20.0 years, varying from 7.9 years to 83.2 years. With regard to the adult population, 16 studies evaluated the effects of WBV in the elderly ( n = 59.8 ± 35.4 subjects) (9, 30–32, 36, 40, 44, 45, 50, 53, 55, 56, 59, 62, 64, 69), four in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ( n = 42.5 ± 16.7 subjects) (57, 61, 65, 71), seven in patients with stroke ( n = 46.1 ± 27.2 subjects) (28, 35, 38, 51, 54, 67, 72), four in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) ( n = 32.2 ± 11.9 subjects) (29, 33, 63, 68), three in postmenopausal women ( n = 40.3 ± 12.5 subjects) (48, 58, 66), two in patients with multiple sclerosis ( n = 29.5 ± 6.3 subjects) (34, 39) and one in patients with the following pathologies: incomplete cervical spinal injury (47), pulmonary arterial hypertension (42), lung transplantation (43), idiopathic Parkinson's disease (41), total knee arthroplasty (49) and cerebral palsy (27) ( n = 30.0 ± 26.4 subjects). With regard to the child population, two studies evaluated the effects of WBV in cerebral palsy (37, 60), one in patients with osteogenesis imperfect (46) and one in patients with spastic diplegia or quadriplegia forms of cerebral palsy (52) ( n = 22.5 ± 5.9 subjects).…”

“…A total of 25 studies were included in statistical analysis. Eleven studies were included for meta-analysis in the elderly (30–32, 40, 44, 45, 50, 53, 59, 64, 69), four studies for COPD patients(57, 61, 65, 71), four studies for stroke patients (35, 38, 51, 54), four studies for patients with knee OA (29, 33, 63, 68) and two studies for patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) (3, 34).…”

“…Training duration varied from 6 weeks to 8 months. Fifteen studies had a frequency of three sessions per week (9, 30–32, 36, 40, 44, 45, 50, 53, 55, 56, 59, 64, 69) while one study involved two sessions per week (62). The frequency and amplitude of platform vibrations varied from 10 to 40 Hz and 0.5 to 8 mm, respectively.…”

“…Intensity was progressively increased in 11 studies (9, 30, 32, 40, 45, 50, 53, 55, 59, 62, 64). Eight studies used synchronous vibrations (9, 30, 31, 36, 40, 50, 59, 69) while the other eight studies (32, 44, 45, 53, 55, 56, 62, 64) did not mention the type of vibrations delivered by their devices. The number of vibration bouts delivered per session varied from two to 39 sets with a period lasting between 15 sand 3 min each.…”

A terapia por vibração do corpo inteiro promove melhora do equilíbrio na doença de Parkinson?

“…Ainda em relação à terapia por vibração do corpo inteiro, Lam et al 29 afirmaram que muitas vezes a plataforma vibratória melhora a confiança da pessoa em seu equilíbrio, mas não melhora o equilíbrio em si. Diversas hipóteses foram elencadas pelos pesquisadores a partir dos achados dessa pesquisa.…”