Effects of whole body vibration training on people with chronic stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The effects of whole body vibration (WBV) on chronic stroke (CS) patients have been investigated by some previous studies. However, controversy still exists.

Objective: The objective of this meta-analysis was to review existing studies that assess the effects of WBV training on CS patients.

Methods: We searched Medline, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for papers published between January 2000 and January 2014.The meta-analyses were performed using Review Manage Version 5.2.Weighted mean difference (WMD) or standard mean difference (SMD) and its 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used as summary statistics. Funnel plot was used to assess the publication bias.

Results: Seven studies with 298 CS patients (159 patients underwent WBV training in experimental group and 139 patients underwent nothing or the same exercise without vibration or with a "placebo" vibrating platform in control group) were included. No significant difference was found in muscle strength (isometric knee extension strength: SMD = - 0.15, 95% CI, - 0.43 to 0.13, P = 0.30; isometric knee flexion strength: WMD = - 0.05, 95% CI, - 0.13 to 0.03, P = 0.22), balance (berg balance scale, WMD = - 0.23, 95% CI, - 1.54 to 1.09; P = 0.74) and gait performance (6-min walk test, WMD = - 50.40, 95% CI, - 118.14 to 17.34; P = 0.14) between groups. No indication of publication bias was found in the funnel plot.

Conclusions: WBV training had no beneficial effects in muscle strength, balance and gait performance of CS patients.