The Impact of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Bone Minerals and Lean Mass in Children and Adolescents with Motor Disabilities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Whole-body vibration training (WBVT) offers a potential auxiliary treatment method for the rehabilitation of motor disabilities to address a reduction in bone minerals and lean mass caused by motor-disability rehabilitation. The aim of this review was to analyze the efficacy of WBVT in muscle–bone rehabilitation. In order to investigate the potential effect of WBVT on children and adolescents with motor disabilities, a meta-analysis was carried out. From January 2006 to June 2021, studies that met certain criteria were searched for in the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases. An analysis of standardized mean differences was performed using the STATA 15.1 software with a 95% confidence interval (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021258538). Eight studies were selected that included 179 male and 139 female children and adolescents suffering from motor disabilities. The results of the meta-analysis showed that WBVT significantly improved femur bone-mineral density ((p < 0.01, z = 2.66), standardized mean difference (SMD) (95%CI) = 0.41 (0.11, 0.72)), total body–bone mineral content ((p < 0.01, z = 3.08), SMD (95%CI) = 0.26 (0.10, 0.43)), and lean mass ((p < 0.01, z = 2.63), SMD (95% CI) = 0.22 (0.06, 0.39)). In addition, there was no significant effect of WBVT on lumbar spine bone mineral density in the disabled children and adolescents ((p = 0.21, z = 1.25), SMD (95% CI) = 0.17 (−0.10, 0.43)). WBVT can improve femur bone density, total body bone mineral content, and lean mass in children and adolescents suffering from motor disabilities, while there is no effect on lumbar-spine bone density. WBVT can be used as a potential program to improve bone minerals in children and adolescents with motor disabilities.

Effect of exercise on bone health in children and adolescents with cancer during and after oncological treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…As stated by the authors, this might have been caused by the potential loss of vibratory energy as the signal travelled from the distal lower extremity to the trunk. This agrees with a recent systematic review and meta-analysis in children and adolescents with motor disabilities that found no pooled effect of similar interventions on lumbar spine aBMD (Li et al, 2022). Lastly, some studies did not exclude participants receiving growth hormone, corticosteroids or bisphosphonates (Dubnov-Raz et al, 2015), or even included participants during the remaining oncological treatment period (Braam et al, 2018), which might have affected the results.…”

Vibration Rather than Microgravity Affects Bone Metabolism in Adult Zebrafish Scale Model

“…The skeletal system, a typical mechanical tissue, can be modulated in human and animals by mechanical vibrations [ 27 ]. However, some occupational medicine studies have documented a negative impact of vibrations on human health [ 28 ] whereas other studies highlighted some potential benefits of vibration, especially in skeletal tissues [ 29 , 30 , 31 ].…”

Short-term effects of side-alternating Whole-Body Vibration on cognitive function of young adults

“…The intensity of WBV is further defined by frequency, peak-to-peak displacement and temporal aspects such as number and durations of bouts. There is ample evidence for positive effects of WBV on physiological measures such as muscle strength [ 8 – 10 ], balance [ 11 , 12 ], mobility [ 13 ], bone mineral density [ 14 – 17 ], blood flow [ 18 ], oxygen uptake [ 19 ] and heart rate [ 19 ], however, the impact of WBV on cognition and the brain is less extensively explored.…”