Whole-Body Vibration (WBV)
Whole-body vibration (WBV) can be defined as standing or training on a vibrating platform, which transmits sinusoidal oscillations to the whole body via feet (Cardinale & Bosco 2003).
Alashram et al. (2019) conducted a systematic review to examine the effects of WBV training on motor impairments among patients with neurological disorders. The authors assessed 20 studies and concluded that there was weak evidence for a positive effect of short-term WBV training on spasticity of lower limbs, balance, and postural control, as well as any long-term benefits in mobility in patients with neurological disorders (Alashram et al. 2019). In addition, optimal WBV training parameters to treat patients with neurological disorders remain unclear (Alashram et al. 2019). It should be noted that the RCT of Bosveld and Field-Fote (2015) was the only study with participants with SCI included in this systematic review.
Discussion
One good quality RCT found that a WBV 8-week training program had a significant effect on walking speed (10MWT) and standing balance (TUG test and postural sway length) in patients with cervical and chronic SCI (In et al. 2018). It should be noted, however, that the control group participants also made significant improvements with range of motion training, mat exercises, and walking practice over the same period, though their gains were not as great as the WBV group.
Of note, in a meta-analysis of patients with stroke, Zeng et al. (2024) found that WBV demonstrated significant reductions in spasticity (SMD=−0.33, 95% CI =−0.61 to −0.06, p=0.02), improvements in motor function (SMD=0.39, 95% CI = 0.16 to 0.61, p<0.01), and enhancements in balance function (SMD=0.28, 95% CI = 0.09 to 0.47, p<0.01) but not in gait. In their subgroup analyses, Zeng et al. (2024) determined that WBV protocols differed; variable frequency vibration and side-alternating vibration reduced spasticity and improved motor and balance functions, while fixed frequency vibration and vertical vibration did not.
Conclusions
There is level 1 evidence (from 1 RCT: In et al. 2018) that a period of a minimum of four weeks of WBV training could have beneficial effects on walking speed and on standing balance in patients with chronic and motor-incomplete SCI.
