Effects of whole-body vibration training with different frequencies on the balance ability of the older adults: a network meta-analysis

Peirong Liu; Yongjie Li; Yajun Xiao; Duo Li; Lin Liu; Yong Ma; Weitao Zheng

doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1153163

Effects of whole-body vibration training with different frequencies on the balance ability of the older adults: a network meta-analysis

Front Physiol. 2023 Apr 17:14:1153163. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1153163. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Peirong Liu¹, Yongjie Li², Yajun Xiao¹, Duo Li¹, Lin Liu¹, Yong Ma¹, Weitao Zheng¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Sports Engineering of General Administration of Sports of China, Research Center of Sports Equipment Engineering Technology of Hubei Province, Wuhan Sports University, Wuhan, China.
² Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital Guizhou Hospital, Guiyang, China.

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the effects of whole-body vibration training (WBVT) with different frequencies on the balance ability of older adults. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the WBVT interventions on balance ability in older adults were searched through PubMed, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, ProQuest, Embase, Opengrey, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and China Science and Technology Journal Database (CSTJ) databases from the establishment of the database to August 2022, and all literature that met the PICOS (Participants, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, Study design) criteria were enrolled. Two reviewers screened and assessed the methodological quality of the included literature according to the physiotherapy evidence database (PEDro) scale criteria. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 14.0 software after data extraction. Results: Twenty-five RCTs with a total of 1267 subjects were finally included. The results of the pairwise comparison of the Network Meta-analysis showed that the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) values of Low-frequency whole-body vibration training (LF-WBVT) was lower than the placebo and traditional rehabilitation groups, and the difference was statistically significant [WMD = -1.37, 95% CI (-2.53, -0.20)] [WMD = -1.84, 95% CI(-3.17,-0.51)]. The Five-repetition Sit-to-Stand Test (5STS) values of LF-WBVT, Medium-frequency whole-body vibration training (MF-WBVT), and High-frequency whole-body vibration training (HF-WBVT) were lower than the placebo and traditional rehabilitation groups, but none of them were statistically significant. In addition, the TUGT and 5STS values of HF-WBVT had a tendency to be lower than those of LF-WBVT and MF-WBVT, but neither of them was statistically different. The cumulative probability ranking results of both TUGT and 5STS showed that HF-WBVT was the best protocol. Conclusion: Current evidence shows that HF-WBVT may be the best protocol for improving balance in older adults. Due to the study's limitations, the conclusion obtained in this study still needs to be further confirmed by more high-quality studies. Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/], identifier [CRD42021250405].

Keywords: balance; frequency; meta-analysis; older adults; whole body vibration.

Publication types

Systematic Review

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the East Lake Scholars Sponsorship Program of Wuhan Sports University in China (2017), Science and Technology Team Foundation of Wuhan Sports University (21KT02), the 14th Five-Year-Plan Advantageous and Characteristic Disciplines (Groups) of Colleges and Universities in Hubei Province [(2021)05].