The effects of whole body vibration in patients with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Background:Whole body vibration (WBV) has been used to increase physical activity levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Objective:To carry out a systematic review of the effects of WBV on the glycemic control, cardiovascular risk factors, and physical and functional capacity of patients with T2DM. Method: MEDLINE, LILACS, PEDro, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched up to June 1st, 2015. Randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of WBV, compared to control or other intervention, on blood glucose levels, blood and physical cardiovascular risk factors, and physical and functional capacity in adult individuals with T2DM. Two independent reviewers extracted the data regarding authors, year of publication, number of participants, gender, age, WBV parameters and description of intervention, type of comparison, and mean and standard deviation of pre and post assessments. Results: Out of 585 potentially eligible articles, two studies (reported in four manuscripts) were considered eligible. WBV interventions provided a significant reduction of 25.7 ml/dl (95% CI:-45.3 to -6.1; I2: 19%) in 12 hours fasting blood glucose compared with no intervention. Improvements in glycated hemoglobin, cardiovascular risk factors, and physical and functional capacity were found only at 12 weeks after WBV intervention in comparison with no intervention. Conclusion: WBV combined with exercise seems to improve glycemic control slightly in patients with T2DM in an exposure-dependent way. Large and well-designed trials are still needed to establish the efficacy and understand whether the effects were attributed to vibration, exercise, or a combination of both.

A systematic review of studies investigating the effects of controlled whole‐body vibration intervention on peripheral circulation

“…Exposure of both healthy subjects and patients (with Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, type II diabetes, etc.) to such intervention showed improvements in proprioception, joint position sense, leg balance and gait, increase in bone mineral density, functional mobility and muscle strength, enhancement in muscle oxygenation and peripheral circulation (Ko et al, 2017;Orr, 2015;Robinson et al, 2016). Reduced peripheral circulation caused by peripheral vascular diseases or various clinical disorders as diabetes and rheumatologic diseases poses increased risk for mortality or morbidity, especially, among the elderly with declined ability to control skin blood flow and greater susceptibility and severity in macrovascular and microvascular impairments of the extremities (Mayfield et al, 2001;Tew et al, 2012).…”

Effects of whole-body vibration therapy on perception thresholds of type 2 diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy: a randomized controlled trial

“…Whole-body vibration (WBV) has been used in patients with neurological or musculoskeletal disorders as a new and effective intervention method to improve physical function 10 , 11 ) . WBV recently has been applied to improve the strength and balance of diabetic patients 12 , 13 ) , but it is yet to be applied as a therapeutic method for improving sensation.…”

Objective and subjective reduction of cellulite volume using a localized vibrational massage device in a 24‐week randomized intra‐individual single‐blind regression study

“…WBV demonstrated an improvement in visible cellulite when assessed by blind reviewers [20]. In some adipose conditions, it is reported that vibrational evidence exists for the breakdown of adipose tissue in studies investigating obesity and diabetes [22], and significant correlations exist between changes in percent body fat and blood flow. WBV is also considered an effective means to increase leg blood flow and to reduce adiposity in patients with type II diabetes [23].…”