Article

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of whole-body vibration on spasticity among
people with central nervous system disorders. METHODS: Electronic searches were
conducted using CINAHL, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, Physiotherapy Evidence
Database, PubMed, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus and Scopus to identify randomized
controlled trials that investigated the effect of whole-body vibration on spasticity among people with central nervous system disorders (last search in August 2015).
The methodological quality and level of evidence were rated using
the PEDro scale and guidelines set by the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based
Medicine. RESULTS: Nine trials with totally 266 subjects (three in cerebral
palsy, one in multiple sclerosis, one in spinocerebellar ataxia, and four in
stroke) fulfilled all selection criteria. One study was level 1b (PEDro6 and
sample size>50) and eight were level 2b (PEDro<6 or sample size 50). All three
cerebral palsy trials (level 2b) reported some beneficial effects of whole-body
vibration on reducing leg muscle spasticity. Otherwise, the results revealed no
consistent benefits on spasticity in other neurological conditions studied. There
is little evidence that change in spasticity was related to change in functional
performance. The optimal protocol could not be identified. Many reviewed studies
were limited by weak methodological and reporting quality. Adverse events were
minor and rare. CONCLUSION: Whole-body vibration may be useful in reducing leg
muscle spasticity in cerebral palsy but this needs to be verified by future high
quality trials. There is insufficient evidence to support or refute the notion
that whole-body vibration can reduce spasticity in stroke, spinocerebellar ataxia
or multiple sclerosis.

Langue : ANGLAIS