Background: Whole-body vibration (WBV) training is a novel training method that stimulates the human neuromuscular system by the use of vibration, the frequency and amplitude of which are controlled, thereby inducing adaptive changes in the body. WBV training is widely used as a clinical prevention and rehabilitation tool in physical medicine and neuro-rehabilitation as a clinical prevention and rehabilitation tool.
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to review the effects of WBV on cognitive function, provide an evidence-based foundation for future research on WBV training, and promote additional popularization and use of the methodology in clinical practice.
Methods: A systematic review of articles extracted from the following six databases was conducted: PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus. A literature search was performed on articles in which the effects of WBV on cognitive function were evaluated.
Results: Initially, a total of 340 studies were initially identified, among which 18 articles that satisfied the inclusion criteria were selected for inclusion in the systematic review. Participants were allocated into two groups: patients with cognitive impairment and healthy individuals. The results demonstrated that WBV was both positive and ineffective in its influence on cognitive function.
Conclusion: The majority of studies suggested that WBV may be a useful strategy for the management of cognitive impairment and should be considered for inclusion in rehabilitation programs. However, the impact of WBV on cognition requires additional, larger, and adequately powered studies.
Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=376821, identifier CRD42022376821.
Keywords: cognitive ability; cognitive function; rehabilitation; vibration training; whole-body vibration.
Copyright © 2023 Wen, Leng, Hu, Hou and Huang.