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Review
. 2018 Aug;97(34):e11918.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000011918.

Whole-body vibration training and bone health in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Affiliations
Review

Whole-body vibration training and bone health in postmenopausal women: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Elena Marín-Cascales et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2018 Aug.

Abstract

Background: The aims of the present systematic review and meta-analysis were to evaluate published, randomized controlled trials that investigate the effects on whole-body vibration (WBV) training on total, femoral neck, and lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women, and identify the potential moderating factors explaining the adaptations to such training.

Methods: From a search of electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane) up until September 2017, a total 10 studies with 14 WBV groups met the inclusion criteria. Three different authors tabulated, independently, the selected indices in identical predetermined forms. The methodological quality of all studies was evaluated according to the modified PEDro scale. For each trial, differences within arms were calculated as mean differences (MDs) and their 95% confidence intervals between pre- and postintervention values. The effects on bone mass between exercise and control groups were also expressed as MDs. Both analyses were performed in the total sample and in a specific class of postmenopausal women younger than 65 years of age (excluding older women).

Results: The BMD of 462 postmenopausal women who performed WBV or control protocol was evaluated. Significant pre-post improvements in BMD of the lumbar spine were identified following WBV protocols (P = .03). Significant differences in femoral neck BMD (P = .03) were also found between intervention and control groups when analyzing studies that included postmenopausal women younger than 65 years.

Conclusions: WBV is an effective method to improve lumbar spine BMD in postmenopausal and older women and to enhance femoral neck BMD in postmenopausal women younger than 65 years.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of the process of study selection. WBV = whole-body vibration.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean difference (MD) in bone mineral density (BMD) between post- and preintervention. Squares represent the MDa for each trial. Diamonds represent the pooled MD across trials. (A) Total BMD; (B) femoral neck; (C) low back; (D) Femoral neck in postmenopausal women younger than 65 years; and (E) low back in postmenopausal women yonger than 65 years. CI = confidence interval, SD = standard deviation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mean difference (MD) in postintervention bone mineral density (BMD) between whole-body vibration (WBV)-trained and control postmenopausal women. Squares represent the MDa for each trial. Diamonds represent the pooled MD across trials. (A) Total BMD; (B) femoral neck; (C) low back; (D) femoral neck in postmenopausal women younger than 65 years; and (E) low back in postmenopausal women younger than 65 years. CI = confidence interval, SD = standard deviation.

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