Whole – body vibration training for children with neurological disabilities: a meta – analysis

Abstract

Background . Over the years, the concern over bone health deterioration in children with Neurological Disabilities (ND) has caught the interest of the research community. As the current traditional exercise methods are considered too challenging for children with ND, it is essential to seek effective rehabilitation programs with minimum difficulties and movement restrictions for children with disabilities, ultimately improving their muscle and bone health. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the potential application of Whole-body Vibration Training (WBVT) as a beneficial and effective approach to improving Bone Mineral Density (BMD), total body Bone Mineral Content (BMC), and lean mass in children with ND. Methodology . The impact of WBVT on children with ND was investigated using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). A database search was conducted to screen and select past literature sources that were published from January 2002 to July 2022 from EBSCO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Following the quality assessment (PEDro scale and NIH scale) and sensitivity analysis, the Standardised Mean Difference (SMD) was conducted using the STATA 15.1 software with a 95% Confidence interval (95% CI). (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022343789). Results . Eight studies (four Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) and four non-RCT studies) were selected, which involved 184 male and 130 female participants. Based on the PEDro scale, all RCT studies were classified as high methodological quality, while the NIH scale rated all non-RCT papers as ‘Good’. In addition, the meta-analysis results indicated that WBVT substantially enhanced femur BMD [(P < 0.01, z = 3.37), SMD (95% CI) = 0.47 (0.20, 0.74)], lumbar spine BMD [(P = 0.02, z = 2.32), SMD (95% CI) = 0.32 (0.05, 0.58)], total body BMC [(P < 0.01, z = 3.42), SMD (95% CI) = 0.29 (0.12, 0.46)] and lean mass [(P < 0.01, z = 2.80), SMD (95% CI) = 0.25 (0.07, 0.42)] of children with ND. However, the effect of WBVT was insignificant on the total body BMD of children with ND [(P = 0.22, z = 1.24), SMD (95% CI) = 0.14 (-0.08, 0.37)]. Conclusion . The meta-analysis demonstrated the significant effect of WBVT on the femur BMD, lumbar spine BMD, total body BMC, and lean mass in children with ND. Hence, WBVT can be suggested as a complementary treatment prescription for children with ND.