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Table 1 Overview of Selected Whole-Body Vibration studies on postural control

From: Effects of whole-body vibration on postural control in elderly: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Study

Subjects

Study Design

Mean age

N: gender

Duration of WBV training

Parameters WBV

Parameters Control (CON)

Device

Outcome Measures

Main Results

Sinusoidal Vertical Vibrations

Bautmans et al. 2005 [40]

Nursing home residents

RCT

WBV:76.6

CON:78.6

N = 24:

15♀/9♂

6 w

FRQ:

4 × 30-60 s WBV/session

30-60 s rest in between

3 sessions/w

F: 30-40 Hz

A: 2/5 mm

POS:

Static exercises while WBV

Static exercises without WBV

3 sessions/w

Power Plate

TUG

Tinetti Test

WBV/CON:

Significant difference in the improvement between WBV and CON for both balance tests (TUG & Tinetti).

Beck et al. 2010 [51]

Postmenopausal women

RCT

WBV:68.9

CON:74.2

N = 47♀

8 m

FRQ:

15 min LWBV/1 session

no rest

2 sessions/w

F: LWBV: 30 Hz

A: 0.3 g

POS:

standing with full extension

No vibration

Juvent

SLS

Tandem Walk Test

WBV/CON

No improvements of some aspects of postural control

Bogaerts et al. 2007[42]

Community-dwelling elderly

RCT

WBV: 66.9

FIT: 67.6

CON: 68.6

N = 220:

106♀/114♂

52 w

FRQ:

4 × 30 s-15 × 60 s WBV/session

15-60 s rest in between

3 sessions/w

F: 30-40 Hz

A: 2.5/5 mm

POS:

Static/dynamic exercises while WBV

(squats, toe-stand etc.)

FIT: 1.5 h cardiovascular, strength, balance, flexibility exercises

(running, cycling, strength etc.)

3 sessions/w

CON: No change in lifestyle

Power Plate

Sensory Organization Test (SOT)

WBV:

Improvement of some aspects of postural control

Boegarts et al. 2011 [41]

Elderly women

RCT

WBV:80.3, 79.8

CT: 78.7, 79.6

N:113

113♀

6 m

FRQ:

3 × 15 s - 60 s with 60 to 5 s rest between per week

F: start 30 and end 40 Hz

A: 1.6 - 2.2 g

POS:

exercises squat, deep squat, wide stance squat, toes stand, one leg stance

Control: no change in lifestyle

Powerplaate

Static balance on forc, dynamic balance (SOT), TUG,

WBV:

Sway velocity decrease significantly with open and closed eyes in static balance.

No changes in dynamic balance.

TUG significantly decrease in both groups

Carlucci et al. 2010 [39]

Elderly women

Quasi RCT

WBV: 71.8

CON: 71.4

N = 36♀

One session

FRQ:

6 min

3, 5 min rest

F: 35 Hz

POS:

Static and dynamic knee-extensor exercises.

Static and dynamic knee-extensor exercises without vibration.

Well-net Vibe Revolution

Posturography

WBV:

No significant improvement in static balance after WBV.

Johnson et al. 2010 [43]

Patients after total knee arthroplasty [57]

Quasi RCT

WBV:67

CON:68.5

N = 16

6♀/10♂

4 w

FRQ:

began at 2 min (1 × 30 s) and progressed to 18 min (6 exercises, 3 × 30 s)

3 sessions/4

F: 35 Hz

A: 2 mm (1 + 2 w)

2- 5 mm (3 w)

5 mm (4 w)

POS:

strengthening exercises on a WBV platform

Traditional progressive resistive exercise

Power Plate

TUG

WBV:

Significant improvement was 31%

TPRE:

Significant improvement was 32%

Mikhael et al. 2010 [44]

elderly

RCT

WBV FK: 63.3

WBV LK: 69

Sham: 62.3

N = 19

11♀/8♂

13 w

Group WBV with flexed knees [58] and Group WBV with locked knees (LK)

FRQ:

10 × 60 s WBV/session

60 s rest between

3 sessions/w

A: 12 Hz

F: 1 mm (peak to peak)

POS:

Stood on the platform with feed shoulder-width apart, hands by their side

Sham:

with flexed knees

A: 12 Hz

F: 1 mm

 

Balance measured by balance index, was assessed on a force platform

WBV/Sham:

No improvement of the balance index

Verschueren et al. 2004 [18]

Postmenopausal women

RCT

WBV: 64.6

RES: 63.9

CON: 64.2

N = 70:

70♀

24 w

FRQ:

WBV overload principle:

Varying number/durations of vibration bouts and rests

≤ 30 min/session

3 sessions/w

F: 35-40 Hz

A: 1.7/2.5 mm

POS:

Static/dynamic knee-extensor exercises while WBV (Squats, lunge etc.)

RES:

Knee-extensor exercises on leg-extension and leg-press

according to overload principle:

60 min/session

3 sessions/w

CON:

Maintain actual level of physical activity, no training

Power Plate

Bertec® force plate measuring body sway under static and dynamic (arm abduction or flexion while standing) conditions

WBV:

Significant reduced body sway under dynamic conditions after WBV (p < 0.05).

Between group difference for change over time only for the dynamic conditions compared to CON (p = 0.003/p = 0.03).

CON:

No change over time

Side-alternating Vibration

Beck et al. 2010 [51]

Postmeno-

pausal women

RCT

HWBV:68.5

CON:74.2

N = 47♀

8 m

FRQ:

2 × 3 min HWBV/session

60 s rest in between

2 sessions/w

F:12.5 Hz

A: ~ 2 mm

POS:

standing with slightly bended knee

No vibration

Galileo

SLS

Tandem Walk Test

WBV/CON

No improvements of some aspects of postural control

Bruyere et al, 2005 [45]

Nursing home residents

RCT

WBV: 84.5

CON: 78.9

N = 42:

31♀/11♂

6 w

FRQ:

4 × 60 s/session

3 sessions/w

90 s rest in between

F: 10/26 Hz

A: 3/7 mm

POS:

Static standing while WBV

+

Additional physical therapy:

(gait, balance, ADL, strength)

Physical therapy

(gait, balance, ADL, strength)

3 sessions/w

Galileo

TUG

Tinetti Test: Balance score

WBV:

Significant greater improvement in both balance tests compared to CON.

Cheung et al. 2007 [46]

Elderly healthy women

RCT

WBV: 72.5

CON: 72.0

N = 69♀

12 w

FRQ:

3 min/session

3 sessions/w

F: 20 Hz

A: 0-5.3 mm (model specifications)

POS:

Static standing while WBV

Remain sedentary

Normal daily life throughout the whole study

Galileo

Basic Balance

Master system:

Limits of stability of COP

(Movement velocity/maximum excursion/directional control)

Functional Reach

Test

WBV:

Significant difference in change compared to CON on Basic Balance Master system

Tendency to greater improvement compared to CON in Functional Reach

Furness et al. 2009 [47]

Elederly, community-dwelling adults

RCT

WBV: 72 ± 8

N = 73

38♀/35♂

6 w

FRQ:

5 × 60 s WBV/session

60 s rest in between

Group A: 1 session/w

Group B: 2 sessions/w

Group C: 3 sessions/w

F: 15-25 Hz

A: 0.5 mm

POS:

Static standing while WBV with holding on handlebars

(110° knee extension)

No WBV

 

Tinetti-Test

TUG

Group B+C:

Significant improvement TUG and Tinetti Test.

Group C significantly greater improvements for the TUG and Tinetti Test than group B.

Furness et al. 2010 [48]

Elederly, community-dwelling adults

RCT

69 ± 8

N = 37

21♀/16♂

6 w

FRQ:

5 × 60 s WBV/session

60 s rest in between

F: 15 Hz for first 6 session

F: 20 Hz for 6 session

F: 25 HZ for last 6 session

A: 1 mm

POS:

Static standing while WBV with holding on handlebars

(70° knee flexion)

No WBV and no additional form of exercise

 

TUG

WBV elicited beneficial adaptions in functional performance

Gusi et al. 2006 [21]

Postmenopausal women, untrained

RCT

WBV: 66

CON: 66

N = 28♀

32 w

FRQ:

3-6 × 60 s WBV/session

60 s rest in between

3 sessions/w

F: 12,6 Hz

A: 3 mm

POS:

Static standing while WBV

(60° knee flexion)

55 min walking + 5 min stretching

Galileo

Blind Flamingo Test

WBV Improved balance (29%)

CONt

Balance did not improve

Rees et al. 2007 [49]

Healthy elderly persons

RCT

WBV: 74.3

EX: 73.1

CON: 73.1

N = 43:

20♀/23♂

8 w

FRQ:

6 × 45-80 s WBV/session

45-80 s rest in between

3 sessions/w

F: 26 Hz

A: 5-8 mm

POS:

Static/dynamic exercises while WBV

(squats, calf raises etc.)

+

≥ 3x/w low intensity exercise (walking)

EX:

Static and dynamic exercises (squats, calf raises etc.) without WBV

3 sessions/w

+

≥ 3x/w low intensity exercise (walking)

CON:

≥ 3x/w low intensity exercise (walking)

Galileo

Timed-Up-and Go (TUG)

Sit-to-Stand

(STS)

WBV:

Significant difference in amount of change in TUG compared to CON

WBV/EX:

Significant difference in amount of change in STS compared to CON

Rees et al.2009 [50]

Healthy elderly persons

RCT

WBV: 74.3

EX: 73.1

CON: 73.1

N = 43:

21♀/24♂

8 w

FRQ:

6 × 45-80 s WBV/session

45-80 s rest in between

3 sessions/w

F: 26 Hz

A: 5-8 mm

POS:

Static/dynamic exercises while WBV

(squats, calf raises etc.)

+

≥ 3x/w low intensity exercise (walking)

EX:

Static and dynamic exercises (squats, calf raises etc.) without WBV

3 sessions/w

+

≥ 3x/w low intensity exercise (walking)

CON:

≥ 3x/w low intensity exercise (walking)

Galileo

One-legged postural steadiness (OLPS)

Timed-Up-and Go (TUG)

WBV:

revealed significant

improvements for the VIB group compared to the EX and CON groups

  1. Abbreviations: N: Number/RCT: Randomized controlled trial/WBV: Whole body vibration/CON: Control group/RES: Resistance training group/EX: Exercise group/FRQ: Frequency of training/F: Frequency of vibration platform/Hz: Hertz/A: Amplitude/POS: Initial position/s: seconds/min: minutes/d: day/w: week/?: No description in study