title: Systematic review of whole body vibration exercises in the treatment of cerebral palsy: Brief report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Whole body vibration (WBV) is increasingly being used to improve balance and motor function and reduce the secondary complications associated with cerebral palsy (CP). The purpose of this study was to systematically appraise published research regarding the effects of static and/or dynamic exercise performed on a vibrating platform on gait, strength, spasticity and bone mineral density (BMD) within this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic searches of six electronic databases identified five studies that met our inclusion criteria (2 at Level II and 3 at Level III-2). Studies were analysed to determine: (a) participant characteristics; (b) optimal exercise and WBV treatment protocol; (c) effect on gait, strength, spasticity and BMD; and (d) the outcome measures used to evaluate effect. As data was not homogenous a meta-analysis was not possible.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several design limitations were identified and intervention protocols are poorly described. The effects on strength, gait, spasticity and BMD in persons with CP remain inconclusive with weak evidence that WBV may improve selected muscle strength and gait parameters and that prolonged exposure may improve BMD; there is currently no evidence that WBV can reduce spasticity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evidence for exercise performed on a vibrating platform on mobility, strength, spasticity and BMD in CP remains scant and further larger scale investigations with controlled parameters to better understand the effects of WBV exercises in this population is recommended.
authors.affiliation: a Mestrado Profissional em Saúde, Medicina Laboratorial e Tecnologia Forense, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , RJ , Brasil .
authors.forename: Danúbia C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Sá-Caputo
authors.affiliation: a Mestrado Profissional em Saúde, Medicina Laboratorial e Tecnologia Forense, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , RJ , Brasil .
authors.forename: Rebeca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Costa-Cavalcanti
authors.affiliation: b Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria , Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , RJ , Brasil .
authors.forename: Rafaelle P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Carvalho-Lima
authors.affiliation: c Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Médicas , Rio de Janeiro , RJ , Brasil .
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arnóbio
authors.affiliation: d Curso de Medicina, Universidade do Grande Rio , Duque de Caxias , RJ , Brasil .
authors.forename: Raquel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bernardo
authors.affiliation: b Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria , Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , RJ , Brasil .
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ronikeile-Costa
authors.affiliation: b Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria , Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , RJ , Brasil .
authors.forename: Cristiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kutter
authors.affiliation: b Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria , Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , RJ , Brasil .
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Giehl
authors.affiliation: b Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria , Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , RJ , Brasil .
authors.forename: Nasser R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Asad
authors.affiliation: e Programa de Pós-Graduação em Promoção da Saúde da Universidade Santa Cruz do Sul , Santa Cruz do Sul , RS , Brasil .
authors.forename: Dulciane N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.affiliation: f Departamento de Pediatria , Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , RJ , Brasil .
authors.forename: Heloisa V F S
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: g Division of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , Stellenbosch University , South Africa , and.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.affiliation: h Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes, Laboratorio de Fisiologia , Valladolid , Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.affiliation: b Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria , Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , RJ , Brasil .
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernardo-Filho
mesh_terms: D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration
keywords: Cerebral palsy; exercise; whole body vibration