title: The effects of whole body vibration on mobility and balance in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of whole-body vibration on physiologic and functional measurements in children with cerebral palsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, EMBASE, Scielo, CINAHL (from the earliest date available to November 2014) for randomized controlled trials, that aimed to investigate the effects of whole-body vibration versus exercise and/or versus control on physiologic and functional measurements in children with cerebral palsy. Two reviewers independently selected the studies. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six studies with 176 patients comparing whole-body vibration to exercise and/or control were included. Whole-body vibration resulted in improvement in: gait speed WMDs (0.13 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.20); gross motor function dimension E WMDs (2.97 95% CI: 0.07 to 5.86) and femur bone density (1.32 95% CI: 0.28 to 2.36). The meta-analysis also showed a nonsignificant difference in muscle strength and gross motor function dimension D for participants in the whole-body vibration compared with control group. No serious adverse events were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whole-body vibration may improve gait speed and standing function in children with cerebral palsy and could be considered for inclusion in rehabilitation programs.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biofunção, Curso de Fisioterapia da Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saquetto
authors.affiliation: The GREAT Group (GRupo de Estudos em ATividade física).|Departamento de Fisioterapia da Universidade Federal de Sergipe - UFS.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biofunção, Curso de Fisioterapia da Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biofunção, Curso de Fisioterapia da Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conceição
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biofunção, Curso de Fisioterapia da Universidade Federal da Bahia - UFBA.|The GREAT Group (GRupo de Estudos em ATividade física).|Programa de Pós Graduação em Medicina e Saúde - UFBA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gomes-Neto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*