Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39707380›Full record

SynthesisJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2024

Upper extremity function and disability recovery with vibration therapy after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs.

Yueh-Hsun Lu, Hung-Ju Chen, Chun-De Liao, Po-Jung Chen, Xin-Miao Wang, Chieh-Hsiang Yu, Po-Yin Chen, Chueh-Ho Lin

Registry-linked trialAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07340034 (Effects of Focal Muscle Vibration Versus Whole Upper Limb Vibration on Spasticity and Upper Motor Control Functions in Post-Stroke Patients), which is not on this map. Cited by 9 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07340034 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Effects of Focal Muscle Vibration Versus Whole Upper Limb Vibration on Spasticity and Upper Motor Control Functions in Post-Stroke Patients

TypeinterventionalSponsorLahore University of Biological and Applied SciencesRan2026 to 2026Enrolled54ConditionsStroke, Post Stroke Upper Limb SpasticityArmsFocal muscle vibration through focal muscle vibrator along with conventional neurorehabilitation, Upper limb vibration through whole body vibrator along with conventional neurorehabilitation
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for post-stroke spasticity: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2026
    Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yueh-Hsun Lu *Department of Radiology, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan (R.O.C.).
Hung-Ju Chen *National Center for Geriatrics and Welfare Research, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County, Taiwan (R.O.C.).
Chun-De Liao *Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan (R.O.C.).
Po-Jung ChenNational Center for Geriatrics and Welfare Research, National Health Research Institutes, Yunlin County, Taiwan (R.O.C.).
Xin-Miao WangSchool of Health Management, College of Health Management, Shanghai Jianqiao University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Chieh-Hsiang YuMaster Program in Long-Term Care, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.).
Po-Yin ChenDepartment of Physical Therapy and Assistive Technology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.).
Chueh-Ho LinNational Center for Geriatrics and Welfare Research, National Health Research Institutes, No. 8, Xuefu W. Rd., Huwei Township, Yunlin County, 63247, Taiwan (R.O.C.). chueh.ho@nhri.edu.tw.

Funding

Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan 110-2221-E-038-016National Health Research Institutes 13A1-CGGP21-051National Science and Technology Council 112-2622-E-038-005
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThis study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of vibration therapy for improving upper extremity motor impairment, function, and disability recovery in people with stroke.

designWe followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library Database, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to May 31, 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effects of vibration therapy on upper extremity motor impairment, function, and disability recovery post-stroke were analyzed. SETTING AND

participantsParticipants with a diagnosis of stroke with hemiplegia (or hemiparesis) were recruited.

methodsMethodological quality assessment was performed using the PEDro quality score. Upper extremity motor impairment, function, and disability were the primary outcomes. Upper extremity motor impairment was measured using the Fugl-Meyer Assessment scale and other methods. Upper extremity functions were evaluated using the Wolf Motor Function test or other tools assessing manipulative activities. Disability was assessed using the Functional Independence Measure, Barthel index, and other methods.

resultsOverall, 30 RCTs including 1621 people with stroke were selected. Compared with the control, vibration therapy exerted significant effects on upper extremity motor impairment [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.19; p < 0.00001)], function (SMD = 0.62; p < 0.00001), and disability recovery (SMD = 1.01; p < 0.00001). The subgroup analysis revealed that focal vibration therapy (SMD = 2.14) had favorable effects on disability recovery compared with whole-body vibration therapy (SMD = 2.0). Interventions lasting 4-8 weeks showed significant improvements in motor impairment (SMD = 1.19), motor function (SMD = 0.57), and disability (SMD = 0.84); additionally, the effects of vibration therapy combined with conventional rehabilitation (SMD = 1.03) were superior to those of vibration therapy alone (SMD = 0.21).

conclusionsVibration therapy may be a reliable rehabilitation program to improve upper extremity motor functions and disabilities. Furthermore, vibration therapy should be performed at the earliest possibility after stroke for at least 4-8 weeks. Trial registration The protocol of this study was registered with PROSPERO (Registration number: CRD42022301119).

Indexed as

Randomized Controlled Trials as TopicRecovery of FunctionStroke RehabilitationUpper ExtremityVibrationHumansStrokeDisabilityMotor functionQuality of lifeStrokeUpper extremityVibration therapy

Identifiers

PMID39707380
PMCPMC11662454

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.