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Meta-Analysis
. 2015 Jun;15(2):137-44.

The effects of whole body vibration on mobility and balance in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review with meta-analysis

M Saquetto  1 , V Carvalho  2   3 , C Silva  1 , C Conceição  1 , M Gomes-Neto  1   2   4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

The effects of whole body vibration on mobility and balance in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review with meta-analysis

M Saquetto et al. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2015 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of whole-body vibration on physiologic and functional measurements in children with cerebral palsy.

Design and methods: We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, EMBASE, Scielo, CINAHL (from the earliest date available to November 2014) for randomized controlled trials, that aimed to investigate the effects of whole-body vibration versus exercise and/or versus control on physiologic and functional measurements in children with cerebral palsy. Two reviewers independently selected the studies. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

Results: Six studies with 176 patients comparing whole-body vibration to exercise and/or control were included. Whole-body vibration resulted in improvement in: gait speed WMDs (0.13 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.20); gross motor function dimension E WMDs (2.97 95% CI: 0.07 to 5.86) and femur bone density (1.32 95% CI: 0.28 to 2.36). The meta-analysis also showed a nonsignificant difference in muscle strength and gross motor function dimension D for participants in the whole-body vibration compared with control group. No serious adverse events were reported.

Conclusions: Whole-body vibration may improve gait speed and standing function in children with cerebral palsy and could be considered for inclusion in rehabilitation programs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Search and selection of studies for systematic review according PRISMA.
Figure 2
Figure 2
WBV versus Control: Gait Speed. Review Manager (RevMan). Version 5.2 The Cochrane Collaboration, 2013.
Figure 3
Figure 3
WBV versus control: Muscle Strength. Review Manager (RevMan). Version 5.2 The Cochrane Collaboration, 2013.
Figure 4
Figure 4
WBV versus control: (A) GMFM D and (B) GMFM E. Review Manager (RevMan). Version 5.2 The Cochrane Collaboration, 2013.
Figure 5
Figure 5
WBV versus control: (A) Lumbar Spine bone density and (B) Femur bone density. Review Manager (RevMan). Version 5.2 The Cochrane Collaboration, 2013.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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