The effects of whole-body vibration training on gait and walking ability - a systematic review comparing two quality indexes.
BACKGROUND
Whole-body vibration (WBV) training has been introduced in the last decade and become a popular training method and may increase muscle performance.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the evidence degree of the effect of WBV training on gait and walking ability by a critical examination of scientific studies. In addition, a minor objective was to compare two quality indexes.


METHODS
Literature search in Scopus; quality assessments with The Risk of Bias and The PEDro Scale; and evidence appraisal according to GRADE.


RESULTS
Ten studies with varying populations using gait-related measurements after at least 1-month WBV intervention were included. Only two studies report significant positive effects. This is defined as low-quality evidence. Eighty percent and 90% of the studies were rated as high quality according to The PEDro Scale and The Risk of Bias, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The low-quality evidence indicates a need for further research. A standardized training protocol would make comparisons and conclusions of WBV training more reliable and feasible.


CONCLUSIONS
There is low-quality evidence for WBV training having effects on gait and walking ability. Further research is needed. The evidence did not alter between the quality indexes.
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology - Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy, Goteborg University , Box 455, Goteborg 405 30, Sweden. jeanette.lindberg@hotmail.com
Jeanette
J
Lindberg
Jane
J
Carlsson
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015982:Bias; D002648:Child; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016138:Walking