Effects of whole body vibration on pain, stiffness and physical functions in patients with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Author: Wang P1, Yang X1, Yang Y1, Yang L1, Zhou Y1, Liu C1, Reinhardt JD2, He C3.
Affiliation:
1Rehabilitation Medicine Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan, Chengdu, People's Republic of China. 2Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China Swiss Paraplegic Research, Lucerne, Switzerland Department of Health Sciences and Health Policy, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland. 3Rehabilitation Medicine Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China Key Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine in Sichuan, Chengdu, People's Republic of China hxkfhcq@163.com.
Conference/Journal: Clin Rehabil.
Date published: 2014 Dec 18
Other: Word Count: 243



OBJECTIVE:
To assess the effects of whole body vibration for pain, stiffness and physical functions in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
DATA SOURCES:
We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and EMBASE (up to October 2014) to identify relevant randomized controlled trials. The outcome measures were pain, stiffness and physical functions.
REVIEW METHODS:
Two investigators identified eligible studies and extracted data independently. The PEDro score was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the selected studies. Standard mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 test.
RESULTS:
A total of five randomized controlled trials involving 170 patients with knee osteoarthritis met the inclusion criteria. Only four studies involving 144 patients were deemed to be good quality trials (PEDro score = 6-7). Meta-analysis revealed that whole body vibration has a significant treatment effect in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities index physical function score (SMD = -0.72 points, 95% CI = -1.14 to -0.30, P = 0.0008), 12 weeks whole body vibration improved the 6-minute walk test (SMD 1.15 m, 95% CI 0.50 to 1.80, P = 0.0006) and balance (SMD = -0.78 points, 95% CI -1.40 to -0.16, P = 0.01). Whole body vibration was not associated with a significant reduction in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities index pain and stiffness score.
CONCLUSION:
Eight-week and 12-week whole body vibration is beneficial for improving physical functions in patients with knee osteoarthritis and could be included in rehabilitation programs.
© The Author(s) 2014.
KEYWORDS:
Knee osteoarthritis; meta-analysis; whole body vibration
PMID: 25525066

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