Evidence mapPaperPMID 40125140Full record

ReviewCureus2025

Impact of Whole-Body Vibration Therapy in Elderly Populations: A Scoping Review.

Gregory R Alfieri, Allison C Eaton, Kirk Dourvetakis, Melissa Rigueros, Trevor Creamean, Harvey N Mayrovitz

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Trial
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

6 authors.

Gregory R AlfieriOsteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Davie, USA.
Allison C EatonOsteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Davie, USA.
Kirk DourvetakisOsteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Davie, USA.
Melissa RiguerosOsteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Davie, USA.
Trevor CreameanOsteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Davie, USA.
Harvey N MayrovitzMedical Education, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Davie, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The aging population faces neuromuscular stability, balance, and cardiovascular health challenges. This comes with a financial burden, morbidity, and reduced quality of life. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a potential noninvasive therapy to address these challenges. This review aimed to determine and document the quality and extent of WBV therapy benefits in the elderly, as reported in the literature. OVID, EMBASE, and Web of Science were searched for peer-reviewed articles written in English between January 2008 and November 2024. Included were articles involving WBV effects on cardiovascular hemodynamics, neuromuscular stability, and sarcopenia in persons aged 50 and older. The initial search yielded 467 articles, and 37 were included for final review. The reported cardiovascular benefits of WBV included increased skin blood flow and improved markers of endothelial cell function. Mixed results exist for arterial stiffness metrics, and there was no significant impact of WBV on blood pressure. The most promising evidence relates to sarcopenia, where significant improvements were reported in muscle strength, performance, and functionality. Elderly persons with osteoarthritis had similar results, in addition to reduced pain and stiffness. Patients with Parkinson's disease were reported to have improvements in tremor, rigidity, and postural stability. In contrast, stroke patients had mixed results in muscle activation but showed improvement in ankle joint proprioception. We conclude that although there is some evidence supporting the benefits of WBV on heart rate, muscle strength, function, and arterial stiffness, contradictory findings are reported. This points to the need for further research and a better definition of the optimal dosage of WBV, including its amplitude and frequency.

Indexed as

arterial stiffnessbalancecardiovascular effectsgeriatricsmuscle strengthposturetremorvibration health benefitswbvwhole body vibration

Identifiers

PMID40125140
PMCPMC11927757

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.