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Effectiveness of whole-body vibration on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

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Abstract

The present study observed significant effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) on bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women, with high-quality evidence for high-frequency, low-magnitude, and high-cumulative-dose use. The aim was to update a previous systematic review with meta-analysis to observe the effects of WBV on BMD in postmenopausal women. For the meta-analysis, the weighted mean difference between WBV and control groups, or WBV and conventional exercise, was used for the area of bone mineral density (aBMD) of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, total hip, trochanter, intertrochanter, and Ward’s area, or volumetric trabecular bone mineral density (vBMDt) of the radius and tibia. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale and the quality of evidence using the GRADE system. In total, 23 studies were included in the systematic review and 20 in the meta-analysis. Thirteen studies showed high methodological quality. WBV compared with control groups showed significant effects on aBMD in the primary analysis (lumbar spine and trochanter), sensitivity (lumbar spine), side-alternating vibration (lumbar spine and trochanter), synchronous vibration (lumbar spine), low frequency and high magnitude (lumbar spine and trochanter), high frequency and low magnitude (lumbar spine), high frequency and high magnitude (lumbar spine, trochanter, and Ward’s area), high cumulative dose and low magnitude (lumbar spine), low cumulative dose and high magnitude (lumbar spine and trochanter), and positioning with semi-flexed knees (trochanter). Of these results, only high frequency associated with low magnitude and high cumulative dose with low magnitude showed high-quality evidence. At this time, considering the high quality of evidence, it is possible to recommend WBV using high frequency (≈ 30 Hz), low magnitude (≈ 0.3 g), and high cumulative dose (≈ 7000 min) to improve lumbar spine aBMD in postmenopausal women. Other parameters, although promising, need to be better investigated, considering, when applicable, the safety of the participants, especially in vibrations with higher magnitudes (≥ 1 g).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil

    Regina Dantas Jales de Oliveira & Mario Bernardo-Filho

  2. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências do Movimento Humano, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná (UENP), Alameda Padre Magno, CEP: 86.400-000, Jacarezinho, Nova Alcântara PR, 841, Brazil

    Raphael Gonçalves de Oliveira & Laís Campos de Oliveira

  3. Laboratório de Vibrações Mecânicas e Práticas Integrativas, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes e Policlínica Piquet Carneiro, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Sebastião David Santos-Filho, Danúbia Cunha Sá-Caputo & Mario Bernardo-Filho

  4. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Fisiopatologia Clínica e Experimental, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

    Danúbia Cunha Sá-Caputo

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  1. Regina Dantas Jales de Oliveira
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de Oliveira, R.D.J., de Oliveira, R.G., de Oliveira, L.C. et al. Effectiveness of whole-body vibration on bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Osteoporos Int 34, 29–52 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-022-06556-y

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