Effects of whole body vibration training on people with chronic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The effects of whole body vibration (WBV) on chronic stroke (CS) patients have been investigated by some previous studies. However, controversy still exists.

The objective of this meta-analysis was to review existing studies that assess the effects of WBV training on CS patients.

We searched Medline, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for papers published between January 2000 and January 2014.The meta-analyses were performed using Review Manage Version 5.2.Weighted mean difference (WMD) or standard mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used as summary statistics. Funnel plot was used to assess the publication bias.

Seven studies with 298 CS patients (159 patients underwent WBV training in experimental group and 139 patients underwent nothing or the same exercise without vibration or with a "placebo" vibrating platform in control group) were included. No significant difference was found in muscle strength (isometric knee extension strength: SMD = - 0.15, 95% CI, - 0.43 to 0.13, P = 0.30; isometric knee flexion strength: WMD = - 0.05, 95% CI, - 0.13 to 0.03, P = 0.22), balance (berg balance scale, WMD = - 0.23, 95% CI, - 1.54 to 1.09; P = 0.74) and gait performance (6-min walk test, WMD = - 50.40, 95% CI, - 118.14 to 17.34; P = 0.14) between groups. No indication of publication bias was found in the funnel plot.

WBV training had no beneficial effects in muscle strength, balance and gait performance of CS patients.