Effect of whole-body vibration exercise in preventing falls and fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effect of whole-body vibration exercise (WBV) on fracture risk in adults ≥50 years of age.

Design

A systematic review and meta-analysis calculating relative risk ratios, fall rate ratio and absolute weighted mean difference using random effects models. Heterogeneity was estimated using I² statistics, and the Cochrane Collaboration’s risk of bias tool and the GRADE approach were used to evaluate quality of evidence and summarise conclusions.

Data sources

The databases PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Central Register from inception to April 2016 and reference lists of retrieved publications.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Randomised controlled trials examining the effect of WBV on fracture risk in adults ≥50 years of age. The primary outcomes were fractures, fall rates and the proportion of participants who fell. Secondary outcomes were bone mineral density (BMD), bone microarchitecture, bone turnover markers and calcaneal broadband attenuation (BUA).

Results

15 papers (14 trials) met the inclusion criteria. Only one study had fracture data reporting a non-significant fracture reduction (risk ratio (RR)=0.47, 95% CI 0.14 to 1.57, P=0.22) (moderate quality of evidence). Four studies (n=746) showed that WBV reduced the rate of falls with a rate ratio of 0.67 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.89, P=0.0006; I²=19%) (moderate quality of evidence). Furthermore, data from three studies (n=805) found a trend towards falls reduction (RR=0.76, 95% CI 0.48 to 1.20, P=0.24; I²=24%) (low quality of evidence). Finally, moderate to low quality of evidence showed no overall effect on BMD and only sparse data were available regarding microarchitecture parameters, bone turnover markers and BUA.

Conclusions

WBV reduces fall rate but seems to have no overall effect on BMD or microarchitecture. The impact of WBV on fractures requires further larger adequately powered studies. This meta-analysis suggests that WBV may prevent fractures by reducing falls.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42016036320; Pre-results.

Strengths and limitations of this study.

• This is the first systematic review comprehensively conducting a meta-analysis on the effect of whole-body vibration exercise (WBV) on the overall risk of fractures, including falls.

• An extensive systematic literature search identified all available randomised controlled trials using WBV in adults aged 50 on falls, fractures and bone parameters.

• A risk of selection bias exists due to no inclusion of non-English language literature, grey literature or adverse effects.

Introduction

Fragility fractures are associated with much morbidity, mortality and cost to society.^{1 2} In Europe, the direct medical cost of these fractures has been estimated at €31.7 billion per year, expected to rise to €76.7 billion by 2050.³ Propensity to fall and osteoporosis are the major determinants of fragility fractures.^{1 4 5}

One-third of the population over 65 years of age falls at least once a year.⁶ Increasing age, frailty, comorbidity, reduced muscle strength and impaired balance contribute to the risk of falls.^{4 6} In Europe, 22 million women and 5.5 million men were estimated to have osteoporosis in 2010.¹ WHO criteria for diagnosing osteoporosis is based on measurement of bone mineral density (BMD), but there are also other important aspects of bone fragility including microarchitecture and bone turnover.^{7 8} The combination of age-related bone loss and an increased risk of falls cause a higher incidence of fragility fractures in people aged 50 years or more.^{1 9} With an ageing population, the increased cost caused by fragility fractures poses a significant challenge to healthcare systems.^{1 3} Reducing fracture risk with the dual approach of lowering fall risk and enhancing bone strength is therefore desirable.¹⁰

Whole-body vibration exercise (WBV) has been proposed as an exercise modality anabolic to bone, capable of enhancing balance and improving muscle strength.^11–14 Animal studies have showed that mechanical signals introduced via vibration stimulate bone formation and suppress bone resorption.^15–17 The accelerations from vibration platforms are transmitted to the person standing on the plate from the feet to the adjacent muscles and bones. When the plate moves the adjacent muscles provide contractions as a reflex to the stimulus.¹⁸ WBV has been proposed to counteract ageing’s suppression on osteoblast activity thereby preventing bone loss.¹⁵ WBV with high magnitude (high frequency and/or amplitude) has shown to increase muscular activation, and this technique has been suggested as an alternative to weight-bearing exercise.¹⁸ WBV training protocols varies from a few minutes vibration up to 20 min depending on the peak acceleration.

The vibration plates can be assessed at home, in the local community or at rehabilitation units with different forms of monitoring and supervision. The WBV is used as an intervention aimed at preventing bone loss, enhancing muscle strength and balance.

Several studies have investigated the role of WBV on BMD, muscle strength and balance.11 12 14 19–24 However, the results have been inconsistent perhaps due to differences in types of vibration studied: intervention designs, populations assessed and study quality. Fewer studies have focused on the effect of WBV on falls and bone strength parameters other than BMD.19 20 25–27

Previous systematic reviews on the effect of WBV on balance and muscle strength in older adults have reported improvement in lower extremity muscle strength or in certain balance measures.^28–32 Systematic reviews focusing on BMD have shown inconsistent results,^32–35 with some showing no overall effect,³² others a small increase in BMD of the hip³³ or no effect on the hip but an effect on lumbar spine,³⁵ while some found a BMD increase in certain subgroups only.³⁴ To the best of our knowledge, no systematic review has comprehensively investigated the role of WBV on fragility fractures and overall risk of fragility fractures, including falls and bone quality.

The objectives of this systematic review were to address if WBV in adults over 50 years of age could affect the incidence of fractures, falls, as well as estimates of bone mass, architecture and turnover.

Methods

Data sources and searches

Literature searches were conducted in the following electronic bibliographic databases: PubMed, Embase and The Cochrane Library (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials). The searches were conducted from inception to 4 April 2016. Additionally, we performed manual searches of the reference lists of retrieved publications and earlier reviews.^{29 32–35} An updated search was conducted by end of January 2017 to check for any new relevant studies prior to submission.

The search string was structured with librarian assistance using the PICO method: P (population)=adults ≥50 years of age, I (intervention)=whole-body sinusoidal vibration (ie, constant vibration frequency) from a platform, C (comparison)=no intervention, sham, normal care or same exercise in both arms and O (outcome)=fractures, falls and bone property parameters.

The searches were conducted without filters or restrictions, and the search string is available in online supplementary appendix 1.

Study selection

One author (DBJ) screened title and abstracts. Two authors (DBJ, KT) independently evaluated the full-text papers and eligibility. Conflicts were resolved by a third author (JR). The selection was conducted using the software Covidence (Covidence systematic review software; Veritas Health Innovation, Melbourne, Australia) and a standardised eligibility form.

Inclusion criteria: randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of WBV on fractures, falls and bone properties within the population ≥50 years of age. WBV had to be whole-body sinusoidal vibration (ie, constant vibration frequency) from a platform that vibrates vertically or side alternating, with no restriction on frequency, amplitude or magnitude. The participants had to stand during the WBV. The control groups had to have either no intervention, usual care, sham vibration, activity unlikely to influence bone or fall risk parameters or exercise or interventions identical in both arms (where WBV was an add-on in one group).

Trials were ineligible if non-RCT, animal studies, population age <50 years given by the mean age minus two times the SD or if the participants were younger than 50 years of age, non-English language publications, posters or conference abstracts and if vibration was applied locally, by electrical current, non-standing, with random frequencies, using vibrating insoles or by ultrasound.

Data extraction and quality assessment

Data were independently extracted by two authors (DBJ, KT), using a standardised data extraction form. For all included studies, information was gathered on country of origin, design, randomisation, population, intervention, adherence, analyses per intention to treat or per protocol and results.

Primary outcomes of interest were fractures and falls, and secondary outcomes were bone parameters including BMD (spine and hip), bone microarchitecture (assessed by high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HRpQCT) or bone biopsy), bone turnover markers (carboxy-terminal collagen cross-link (CTX) (bone resorption) or amino terminal propeptide of type I collagen (P1NP) (bone formation)) or calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (BUA).

Data were extracted from the intervention and control groups, and if the WBV was an add-on to exercise, then the exercise and WBV arm was compared with the exercise arm.

The numbers of fractures and the participants contributing with data were extracted in the groups.

Regarding falls, the number of falls, the number of participants who experienced falls and the number of participants contributing with data and length of follow-up were extracted. To reduce the clinical heterogeneity, only falls data from the intervention periods of the studies were extracted.

For BMD, bone turnover markers, microarchitecture parameters and BUA, the absolute mean difference (with SDs) from baseline to follow-up were extracted in the intervention and control groups.

If the data were reported different than stated above, the corresponding authors of the included studies were contacted to acquire the data.

The risk of bias for each included study was assessed using the Cochrane ‘Risk of bias tool’.³⁶ The performance biases were divided in patient reported outcomes (falls) and bone property parameters. The quality of evidence was assessed for each outcome using the five GRADE considerations, and summaries of findings were created using the GRADE guidelines.³⁷

Strategy for data synthesis and analysis

The results across studies were pooled by numbers of events calculating relative risk of fractures and for experiencing one or more falls (fallers) with 95% CI. Fall incident rate ratio per patient year with 95% CI was calculated using the reported rate of falls (falls per person-year), or the rate of falls in each group were calculated from the total number of falls and the total length of the intervention duration (person-years) for participants contributing with data in each group using STATA V.14. The mean differences in BMD, bone turnover markers, microarchitecture parameters and BUA were pooled calculating the absolute mean difference and 95% CI. The mean differences were calculated subtracting the baseline means from the follow-up or by multiplying percent change with baseline means. The SDs were calculated using the formula: ((HCI-LCI/2/TINV(0.05;n-1)*√ (n)), where HCI is the highest value of 95% CI, LCI the lowest value of 95% CI and n the sample size of the group, TINV (0.05;n-1)=t value for a 95% CI from a sample size of n,³⁶ by using P values for change over time in Review Manager calculator (RevMan) V.5.3 (Copenhagen: The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration 2014) or by the formula SD=((m_i–m_c)/TINV(P value; df))/√ (1/n_i+1/n_c), where m_i is the mean difference in the intervention group, m_c is the mean difference in the control group, df is degrees of freedom, n_i is the sample size in the intervention group and n_c is the sample size in the control group.³⁶ When cluster randomisation was used, adjustments were applied.³⁶ The number of participants contributing with data in each group was used for the calculations if this was reported; otherwise, the number of participants randomised to each group was extracted. Where possible, the longest follow-up times were used (with 2 papers reporting 3-month and 6-month data, 6-month data were used).^{26 27} In case of post hoc study extension, the originally planned duration was used.²² Calculations were performed using Excel and STATA V.14. To allow for variability among the participants and interventions, the random effect meta-analysis model in RevMan was used. Heterogeneity was assessed by forest plots and the I² statistics. Preassigned subgroup analyses for sinusoidal vertical and side-alternating WBV were done where possible.

The review protocol was registered 1 April 2016 in Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2009 statement, and the checklist was completed.³⁸

Results

Study selection and characteristics

A total of 3207 titles and abstracts were initially identified, and after removal of 959 duplicates, 2248 titles and abstracts were screened for relevance. The majority of identified papers were excluded because they described animal studies, were not RCTs or did not meet the definition of the intervention. A total of 107 full-text papers were read and matched to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Selection of the included studies is illustrated in the PRISMA flow diagram (figure 1). The updated search revealed no new relevant studies.

Figure 1.

PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) flow diagram presenting the literature searches and the included studies.

Study characteristics

A total of 15 papers (14 studies) met the criteria for the qualitative synthesis and are described in table 1. The studies were published from 2004 to 2015, with an accumulated population of 1839 (ranging from 42²⁰ to 710²¹ participants in the included studies). The mean age of the overall population was 74 years, with 82% living independently and 90% being women. All studies were RCT with one trial using cluster randomisation.²¹ The six studies compared WBV with continued daily activities,20 21 26 39–41 with one study using two different forms of WBV.³⁹ Three studies compared WBV with exercise or wellness therapy,^{24 25 42} and one study compared WBV with exercise and to continued daily activities.¹² Two studies compared WBV with sham.^{19 22} One study compared WBV and high or low-dose vitamin D supplementation with no training and high or low-dose vitamin D supplementation.⁴³ One study compared WBV and alendronate with no training and alendronate.²³ Eight trials reported supervised training,19 20 25 26 39–41 43 two electronically monitored,^{21 22} two using attendance logs^{24 42} and two did not state any form of measurement of adherence.^{12 23}

Table 1.

Description of the included studies

Author, year (reference)	Design	Setting	Participants no.	Women %	Age (mean, SD, range)	Analysed	Outcomes of interest	Supervision	Adherence
Beck and Norling, 201039	Three-arm RCT LWBV versus HWBV versus continue daily activities	Australian independently living postmenopausal women	47 (15, 15, 17)	100	71.5±9.5	ITT/PP	aBMD hip and spine, BUA of calcaneus, falls as adverse effects	Yes	92.1% LWBV, 91% HWBV
Buckinx et al, 2011/Beaudart et al, 201326 27	Two-arm RCT WBV versus continue daily activities	Belgium nursing home residents	62 (31, 31)	76	83.2±7.9	ITT	Falls	Yes	91.9%
Corrie et al, 201419	Three-arm RCT vWBV versus svWBV versus sham	England referred to Geriatric falls clinic	61 (20, 20, 21)	61	80.2±6.5	ITT	Turnover markers (CTX, P1NP)	Yes	77% vWBV 87% svWBV 90% sham
Gomez-Cabello et al, 201340	Two-arm RCT WBV versus continue daily activities	Spain non-institutionalised elderly	49 (24, 25)	59	WBV 75.2±4.7 CON 74.8±4.9	ITT	aBMD hip and spine, pQCT	Yes	Average 90.15%±10.73%
Iwamoto et al, 200423	Two-arm RCT WBV+alendronate versus alendronate	Japan osteoporotic women	50 (25, 25)	100	55–88	Not stated	aBMD spine, falls as adverse effects	Not stated	Not stated
Kiel et al, 201522	Two-arm RCT WBV versus sham	North America independently living elderly	174 (89, 85)	67	82±7	ITT	vBMD hip and spine, turnover markers (CTX, P1NP)	Electronic monitoring	68% WBV 79% placebo
Leung et al, 201421	Two-arm cluster RCT WBV versus continue daily activities	China ≥60 years independently living women	710 (364, 346)	100	74.5±7.1 71.3±7.2	ITT	Fractures, falls, aBMD hip and spine	Electronic monitoring	66% WBV
Liphardt et al, 201420	Two-arm RCT WBV versus continue daily activities	Canadaosteopenic women	42 (22, 20)	100	58.5±3.3 59.1±4.6	Not stated	HRpQCT, aBMD	Yes	90%
Santin-Medeiros et al, 201441	Two-arm RCT WBV versus continue daily activities	Spain women >79 years	43 (25, 18)	100	82.4±5.7	ITT/PP	aBMD hip	Yes	>80%
SitjÃ-Rabert et al, 201525	Two-arm RCT WBV+exercise versus exercise	Spain nursing home residents >65 years	159 (81, 79)	67	82	ITT	Falls	Yes	>75%
Von Stengel et al, 201142	Three-arm RCT WBV+exercise versus exercise versus wellness therapy	Germany women ≥65s year, living independently	151 (50, 50, 51)	100	68.5±3.1	ITT	Falls, aBMD hip and spine	Attendance list	WBV+exercise 80%, exercise 75% home training sessions WBV+exercise 45%, exercise 43%
Von Stengel et al, 201124	Three-arm RCT vWBV versus svWBV versus wellness therapy	Germany women ≥65 years, living independently	108 (36, 36, 36)	100	68.5±3.1	ITT	aBMD femoral neck and spine	Attendance logs	vWBV 73%, svWB 68%, con 71%
Verschueren et al, 200412	Three-arm RCT WBV versus exercise versus no training	Belgium postmenopausal women non-institutionalised	70 (25, 22, 23)	100	58–74	Not stated	aBMD hip and spine, turnover markers (CTX)	Not stated	Not stated
Verschueren et al, 201143	Four-arm RCT WBV+HDvit versus WBV+Dvit versus no training+HDvit versus no training+Dvit	Belgium women living in nursing homes	113	100	79.6	ITT	aBMD hip	Yes	>90%

aBMD, areal bone mineral density; BUA, calcaneal quantitative ultrasound; CON, controls; CTX, carboxy terminal collagen crosslink; Dvit, conventional dose vitamin D; HDvit, high-dose vitamin D; HRpQCT, high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT, HWBV, high-magnitude whole-body vibration; ITT, intent to treat; LWBV, low-magnitude whole-body vibration; P1NP, amino terminal propeptide of type I collagen; PP, per protocol; pQCT, peripheral quantitative CT; svWBV, side-alternating whole-body vibration; RCT, randomised controlled trials; vBMD, volumetric bone mineral density; vWBV, vertical whole-body vibration; WBV, whole-body vibration exercise.

The studies varied in the intervention protocols with differences in vibration design, duration and follow-up (table 2). Eleven studies used high-magnitude WBV (HWBV) (≥1 g in peak acceleration)12 19 20 23–26 40–43 with two of these studies comparing vertical with side-alternating vibration and wellness therapy/sham vibration.^{19 24} Two studies used low-magnitude WBV (LWBV) (<1 g in peak acceleration),^{21 22} and one study compared LWBV to high-magnitude side-alternating WBV.³⁹ In the studies, using HWBV, five studies used side-alternating vibration19 20 23 24 39 and nine studies used vertical vibration.12 19 24 25 39–43 Frequencies ranged from 12.5 to 40 Hz, peak-to-peak displacement ranged from 0.7 to 4.2 mm and peak acceleration from 0.3 to 8 g. The exercises were most often vibration spouts lasting from 15 s to 20 min, from every day to once a week, and the duration of the intervention were from 6 weeks to 24 months. In 2 studies, the participants used flat-soled shoes/gymnastic shoes,^{12 24} 2 studies described the intervention shoeless,^{19 26} while the other 10 studies did not report a protocol for footwear (table 2).

Table 2.

Intervention parameters in the included studies

Author (ref)	Intervention (frequency, peak-to-peak displacement/amplitude, peak acceleration)	Vibration type/device	Protocol exercise	Training time (total vibration per session, training frequency)	Duration	Footwear
Beck and Norling39	LWBV 30 Hz, not stated, 0.3 g HWBV 12.5 Hz, 0–14 mm amplitude, 1 g	vWBV/ Juvent 1000 DMT svWBV/ Galileo 2000	Standing full upright no bending knees slightly bent	15 min, 2 days/week 6 min, 2 days/week	8 months	Not stated
Beaudart et al/ Buckinx et al27 26	30 Hz 2 mm amplitude, not stated	vWBV/ Vibrosphere	Standing on two feet knees flexed	75 s, 3 days/week	6 months	Shoeless
Corrie et al19	vWBV 28.4 Hz, 1.3 mm peak to peak, 1.5 g svWBV 29.8 Hz, 2.9 mm peak to peak, 3.6 g	vWBV/ Power plate sv/ Galileo 2000	Standing with bent knees	6 min, 3 days/week	12 weeks	Shoeless
Gomez-Cabello et al40	40 Hz, 2 mm amplitude, not stated	vWBV/ Pro5Power plate	Standing with knees slightly bent holding the handrail	7.5 min, 3 days/week	11 weeks	Not stated
Iwamoto et al23	20 Hz, 0.7–4.2 mm peak to peak, not stated	svWBV/ Galileo	Standing with bent knees	4 min, 1 days/week	12 months	Not stated
Kiel et al22	37 Hz, 0.09 mm amplitude, 0.3 g	vWBV/not stated	Upright relaxed stand	10 min, 7 days/week	24 months	Not stated
Leung et al21	35 Hz, peak to peak<0.1 mm, 0.3 g	vWBV/not stated	Upright no without bending knees	20 min, 5 days/week	18 months	Not stated
Liphardt et al20	20 Hz, 3–4 mm amplitude, not stated	svWBV/ Vibraflex Galileo	Stable position 30° knee flexion angel	10 min, 2–3 days/week	12 months	Not stated
Santin-Medeiros et al41	20 Hz, 2 mm amplitude, not stated	vWBV/ Fitvibe Excel Pro	18 different exercises, squats	6–6.5 min, 2 days/week	8 months	Not stated
SitjÃ-Rabert et al25	30–35 Hz, 2–4 mm amplitude, not stated	vWBV/ Powerplate	30 min static/dynamic exercises	3–6 min, 3 days/week	6 weeks	Not stated
Von Stengel et al42	25–35 Hz, 1.7 mm amplitude, not stated	vWBV/ Vibrafit	45 min dancing, balance and gymnastics and 15 min dynamic leg strengthening with WBV and two at home sessions (20 min) with no vibration	6 min, 2 days/week	18 months	Not stated
Von Stengel et al24	vvWBV, 35 Hz, 1.7 mm peak to peak, 8 g svWBV 12.5 Hz, 12 mm peak to peak, 8 g	vWBV/ Vibrafit svWBV/ Qionic	Standing position, seven, one or two-legged dynamic leg strengthening exercises	10 min, 3 days/week	18 months	Flat-soled shoes
Verschueren et al12	35–40 Hz, 1.7–2.5 mm amplitude, 2.28–5.09 g	vWBV/ Power plate	Static and dynamic exercises on the vibration platform	20 min, 3 days/week	6 months	Gymnastic shoes
Verschueren et al43	30–40 Hz, not stated, 1.6–2.2 g	vWBV/ Power plate	Static and dynamic exercises on the vibration platform	12 min, 3 days/week	6 months	Not stated

g=9.81 m/s².

HWBV, high-magnitude vibration; LWBV, ow-magnitude vibration; svWBV, side-alternating whole-body vibration; vWBV, vertical whole-body vibration.; WBV, whole body vibration.

Outcomes

One study reported fractures as the primary outcome. A total of six studies reported fall data. Three authors were contacted to obtain data on fall rate^{23 25} and fall risk,⁴² and this way data were obtained from one trial.²⁵

Data on bone parameters were reported in per cent change or preintervention and postintervention measurements in eight studies. The corresponding authors were contacted,12 19–23 39 41 43 and data were obtained this way from three studies.^{19 21 22}

In two studies, data were extracted from previous reviews,^{33 34} which reported to have primary data available from the authors,^{12 23 41} and in the rest of the studies, the outcomes were calculated as described in the method section.

Risk of biases within studies

The majority of studies were categorised as having a low risk of bias in the randomisation with unclear risk of bias in the allocation due to insufficient reporting in half of the studies. The performance bias was categorised as high risk when the participants reported falls and were not blinded to the intervention. One study used wellness therapy in the control group and did not inform the participants of the hypotheses and was thus considered unclear in the risk of performance bias with respect to falls reporting.⁴² Non-blinding of participants were categorised as unclear risk of bias when the outcome were bone parameters. The risk of bias in selective reporting was categorised as low risk if the trial reported all stated outcomes in the papers and was conducted before 2005. After 2005, trials had to be registered online at a registry or having published a study protocol reporting the prespecified outcomes. Figure 2 shows a summary of the risk of bias assessment.

Figure 2.

The risk of bias assessment.

Fractures

One study reported fractures as a primary outcome (risk ratio (RR) 0.48 (95% CI 0.14 to 1.56), with an intracluster correlation coefficient of 0.000 (figure 3).

Figure 3.

Effect of WBV on the relative risk of experiencing a fracture. WBV, whole-body vibration.

Falls

Four studies reported falls as primary outcome.21 25 26 42 Three studies reported fallers and the number of falls in total in each group during the intervention,^{21 25 26} and one study reported the mean number of falls per participants.⁴² One study reported no events in the control arm in the 6-week intervention and adjusted rate ratio could not be calculated. Pooling the studies with falls reported as outcomes showed a fall rate ratio of 0.67 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.89, P=0.006, I²=19%) (figure 4A) in the intervention groups compared with non-intervention and a relative risk of experiencing falls of 0.76 (95% CI 0.48 to 1.20, P=0.24, I²=24%) (figure 4B).

Figure 4.

Forest plot of the effect of WBV. (A) The rate ratio of the fall rate/person-years between the WBV and control group. (B) The RR of experiencing one or more falls. Area of each square is proportional to study weight in meta-analysis and horizontal lines represent exact 95% CIs. Diamonds represent pooled effect estimates from random effects meta-analysis. RR, risk ratio; WBV, whole-body vibration.

Two trials reported falls as adverse effects.^{23 39} A post hoc sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess if the inclusion of these trials would alter the result. In this analysis, a fall rate/person-years rate ratio of 0.65 (95% CI 0.50 to 0.85, P=0.002, I²=8%) was found and a relative risk of experiencing falls of 0.67 (95% CI 0.46 to 0.98, P=0.04, I²=13%) (see online supplementary figure 1a,b).

Post hoc subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the association between the duration and the magnitude of the vibration and falls, duration over 6 months fall rate ratio of 0.61 (95% CI 0.47 to 0.80, P=0.0004, I²=0%, two studies), duration over 6 months and relative risk of experiencing falls of 0.65 (95% CI 0.48 to 0.88, P=0.005, I²=0%, one study), low-magnitude vibration fall rate ratio of 0.56 (95% CI 0.40 to 0.78, P=0.0006, one study), high-magnitude vibration fall rate ratio of 0.80 (95% CI 0.55 to 1.18, P=0.26, I²=0%, two studies) (see online supplementary figure 2a–c).

Bone mineral density

Seven studies reported data on lumbar spine BMD.12 21 23 24 39 40 42 The results showed no overall effect with a mean difference of 0.00 (95% CI −0.00 to –0.01, P=0.11, I²=22%) (figure 5A). Six studies reported data on total hip BMD,12 21 40–43 showing similar results with a mean difference of 0.00 (95% CI −0.00 to 0.01, P=0.27, I²=50%) (figure 5B). Subgroup analyses with vertical and side-alternation vibration explained 44.5% of the heterogeneity in the lumbar spine BMD, and side-alternation vibration showed a mean difference of 0.01 (95% CI 0.00 to 0.02, P=0.04, I²=0%) with 117 participants. All studies reporting BMD in total hip used vertical vibration.

Figure 5.

The effect of WBV exercise in forest plots on (A) areal BMD of the lumbar spine with weighted mean difference and 95% CI, divided in subgroups with vertical vibration and side-alternating vibration, (B) areal BMD in total hip with weighted mean difference and 95% CI, (C) volumetric BMD of the distal tibia with weighted mean difference with 95% CI and (D) WBVs effect on volumetric BMD of the distal radius with weighted mean difference and 95% CI. Area of each square is proportional to study weight in meta-analysis and horizontal lines represent exact 95% CI. Diamonds represent pooled effect estimates from random effects meta-analysis. BMD, bone mineral density; WBV, whole-body vibration.

One study reported change in total proximal femoral trabecular BMD and change in integral lumbar spine vertebral BMD.²² The results from the originally planned duration of 24 months showed no effect on integral lumbar spine vertebral BMD with a mean difference of 0.00 (95% CI −0.00 to 0.00) and total femoral trabecular BMD mean difference of 0.00 (95% CI −0.00 to 0.01) (see online supplementary figure 3a,b). Two studies reported volumetric BMD (vBMD) of radius and tibia using HRpQCT²⁰ or quantitative CT (pQCT) scans.³⁷ The results for the ultradistal site using HRpQCT and a 4% site in tibia and radius using pQCT were combined in forest plots showing no statistically significant effects with a vBMD tibia mean difference of −0.68 (95% CI −2.29 to 0.93, P=0.41, I²=0) and a vBMD radius mean difference of 1.87 (95% CI −0.62 to 4.36, P=0.30, I²=8%) (figure 5C,D).

Bone microarchitecture

One study reported measurements of cortical porosity (Ct.Po) and trabecular BMD (tbBMD)²⁰ using HRpQCT. We refrained from performing a meta-analysis due to the limited data (see online supplementary figure 4). In tibia, WBV compared with control showed an increase in mean difference in Ct.Po of 0.20% (95% CI −0.25 to 0.65) and decrease in tbBMD mean difference −0.3 mg HA/cm³ (95% CI −0.58 to 0.02). In radius, WBV compared with no intervention showed an increase mean difference in Ct.Po of 0.10% (95% CI −0.15 to 0.35) and decrease in tbBMD mean difference −0.90 mg HA/cm³ (95% CI −0.90 to 2.10) (see online supplementary figure 4).

Bone turnover markers

One study reported data on the bone resorption marker CTX¹² and two studies on both CTX and the bone formation marker P1NP.^{19 22} One of the studies reported log transformed CTX and P1NP¹⁹ and no untransformed data could be obtained from the authors. The result for the meta-analysis on CTX was a mean difference of 0.01 ng/mL (95% CI −0.06 to 0.08, P=0.73, I²=0) and with data available from only one trial, the result for P1NP was a mean difference of 4.92 ng/mL (95% CI −3.06 to 12.90) (figure 6A,B).

Figure 6.

Presents the effect of WBV exercise on bone resorption markers in forest plot with CTX and the reported effect on bone formation marker amino terminal P1NP. Area of each square is proportional to study weight in meta-analysis and horizontal lines represent exact 95% CIs. Diamonds represent pooled effect estimates from random effects meta-analysis. CTX, carboxy-terminal collagen cross-link; P1NP, propeptide of type I collagen; WBV, whole-body vibration.

Calcaneal BUA

A single study reported calcaneal BUA mean change in comparing two vibration groups with a control group,³⁹ we refrained from performing a meta-analysis due to the limited data (see online supplementary figure 5). The low magnitude vertical vibration group had a mean difference of 1.99 dB/MHz (95% CI −0.84 to 4.82) and the high-magnitude side-altering vibration group a mean change of 4.69 dB/MHz (95% CI 1.61 to 7.77) compared with the controls (see online supplementary figure 5).

Quality assessment

Quality of evidence was assessed for each outcome (table 3). For the outcome of fractures, the evidence was downgraded for imprecision due to the 95% CI around the pooled estimate of effect includes both the possibility of no effect and appreciable benefit. The evidence for falls rate was downgraded for study limitations due to non-blinding of the participants. The risk of falls was downgraded for imprecision and study limitations due to non-blinding of the participants. Bone parameters were all downgraded for indirectness since they are surrogate markers for bone strength. Regarding bone parameters, the outcomes were downgraded for imprecision if the 95% CI around the pooled estimate of effect includes both the possibility of no effect and appreciable benefit and for inconsistency if the I² statistics showed substantial heterogeneity. Publication bias could not be assessed by a funnel plot with Egger’s test since all of the meta-analyses contained less than 10 studies.³⁶

Table 3.

Summary of findings table presents the findings and the quality of each outcome using the GRADE considerations

WBV compared with usual care for fracture risk
Bibliography
Outcomes	No of participants (studies) Follow-up	Quality of the evidence (GRADE)	Relative effect (95% CI)	Anticipated absolute effects
				Risk with usual care	Risk difference with WBV
Fractures	710 (1 RCT)	⨁⨁⨁◯ Moderate*	RR 0.48 (0.14 to 1.56)	2 per 100	1 fewer per 100 (2 fewer to 1 more)
Fall rate/person-years	746 (3 RCTs)	⨁⨁⨁◯ Moderate†	Rate ratio 0.67 (0.50 to 0.89)	34 per 100	11 fewer per 100 (17 fewer to 4 fewer)
The risk of experiencing falls (fallers)	805 (3 RCTs)	⨁⨁◯◯ Low‡	RR 0.76 (0.48 to 1.20)	23 per 100	6 fewer per 100 (12 fewer to 5 more)
Total bone mineral density lumbar spine (BMD spine)	911 (7 RCTs)	⨁⨁⨁◯ Moderate§	–		Mean 0 (0 to 0.01 higher)
BMD total hip (BMD hip)	870 (6 RCTs)	⨁⨁◯◯ Low¶	–		Mean 0 (0 to 0.01 higher)
Volumetric bone mineral density tibia	80 (2 RCTs)	⨁⨁◯◯ Low**	–		Mean 0.68 lower (2.29 lower to 0.93 higher)
Volumetric BMD radius	80 (2 RCTs)	⨁◯◯◯ Very low††	–		Mean 1.87 higher (0.62 lower to 4.36 higher)
Serum biomarker of bone resorption (CTX)	138 (2 RCTs)	⨁⨁◯◯ Low**	–		Mean 0.01 higher (−0.06 lower to 0.08 higher)
Serum biomarker of bone formation (P1NP)	118 (1 RCT)	⨁⨁◯◯ Low**	–		Mean 4.92 higher (3.06 lower to 12.9 higher)

The risk in the intervention group (and its 95% CI) is based on the assumed risk in the comparison group and the relative effect of the intervention (and its 95% CI).

High quality: We are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect; Moderate quality: We are moderately confident in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be close to the estimate of the effect, but there is a possibility that it is substantially different; Low quality: Our confidence in the effect estimate is limited: The true effect may be substantially different from the estimate of the effect; Very low quality: We have very little confidence in the effect estimate: The true effect is likely to be substantially different from the estimate of effect.

*Serious imprecision, due to the 95% CI around the estimate of effect includes both the possibility of no effect and appreciable benefit.

†Serious study limitations—lack of blinding of the participants reporting falls.

‡Serious study limitations—lack of blinding of the participants reporting fall, and serious imprecision, due to the 95% CI around the pooled estimate of effect includes both the possibility of no effect and appreciable benefit.

§Indirectness (surrogate marker for bone strength).

¶Indirectness, and statistical heterogeneity

**Indirectness, and imprecision due to the 95% CI around the estimate of effect includes both the possibility of no effect and appreciable benefit.

††indirectness, and imprecision due to the 95% CI around the estimate of effect includes both the possibility of no effect and appreciable benefit and statistical heterogeneity.

BMD, bone mineral density; CTX, carboxy-terminal collagen cross-link; GRADE, Working Group grades of evidence; P1NP, propeptide of type I collagen; RCTs, randomised controlled trials; RR, risk ratio; WBV, whole-body vibration.

Discussion

This systematic review and meta-analysis provides evidence that WBV exercise reduces fall rate in adults above 50 years of age. We found a tendency in reduction of the proportion of fallers, no overall effect on BMD, whereas only sparse data were available regarding bone microarchitecture parameters, bone turnover markers and BUA. One study reported fractures showing non-significant fracture reduction.

Strengths and limitations

This study had some limitations. By not including non-English language literature and not extracting data from grey literature or adverse effects, the risk of selection bias exists. Looking at the studies reporting falls as adverse effects in the included studies, the WBV reduces the falls rate and risk in agreement with our findings.

Only one study had fractures as primary outcome and had a low fracture rate.²¹ The studies contributing with falls data were non-blinded which could be important when reporting falls. However, all studies included in the primary falls analysis did record falls prospectively limiting the risk of recall bias.21 25 26 42 The populations in the studies consisted of 82% community-dwelling adults with 90% being female, making the results generalisable only to people with similar characteristics.

Strengths of this review include that the evidence is obtained from RCTs, followed the PRISMA guidelines of reporting and was registered at PROSPERO to improve transparency. A thorough literature search was conducted with assistance from a research librarian and we furthermore performed a hand search of the reference lists of included papers and earlier reviews references.28 29 32–35 The risk of selection bias was reduced by having two independent reviewers select the papers and extract the data. In the systematic review, all outcomes were assessed regarding quality using the GRADE guidelines where fracture is classified as a critical outcome.³⁷ We classified falls as an important outcome and bone parameters being of limited importance as surrogate makers for fracture risk.³⁷ We only pooled homogeneous outcomes in the meta-analysis leading to low statistical heterogeneity in the falls analysis with moderate statistical heterogeneity regarding BMD of the hip and spine. Preassigned subgroup analysis for vertical versus side-alternating vibration could explain 44.5% of the heterogeneity in the lumbar spine analysis, whereas regarding total hip BMD, all studies used vertical vibration and no subgroup analysis was performed. Meta-regression analysis was not performed due to the insufficient number of studies in the analysis.³⁶

Comparisons with other studies and reviews

Prior reviews of exercise have shown that exercise programme designed to prevent falls in older adults also seem to prevent injuries caused by falls, including fractures.^{44 45} The majority of these exercise programme included balance training, functional training and strengthening exercises. Earlier reviews have shown that WBV have balance improving capabilities and the ability to improve muscle strength of the lower extremities,^27–31 and WBV might thus prevent fractures by its fall-reducing capacity or by lowering the impact of a fall.

Our meta-analysis shows that rate of falls can be reduced and suggests a reduction in the proportion of fallers. The number needed to treat to prevent one fall was 11 (table 3). Sustaining a fall increases the risk of injury and reducing the number of times an individual falls, even if not the number of fallers may have clinical and economic relevance to the individual and to society. Falls are very prevalent among the ageing population with one in every three adults aged 65+ years old experiencing a fall every year.⁶ Due to an ageing population, a focus on interventions capable of reducing falls seems of utmost importance.¹⁰ Prior systematic reviews have shown that other exercise programmes can reduce fall rate through muscle strength and balance training, and it has been found that exercising for a period of more than 3 hours per week is associated with a larger decrease in fall rate.⁴⁶ WBV exercise consists of shorter workouts and with the ability to stand as the only requirement for physical function. With the available data the analysis shows a fall reduction in the vibration groups with low heterogeneity, and with the observational power of the post hoc subgroup analyses, we found an association between studies with duration longer than 6 months and a larger reduction in falls.

To our knowledge, this is the first meta-analysis conducted on WBV and falls but earlier findings of a positive effect on surrogate markers for falls (balance and muscle strength)^27–31 can be viewed as an improvement in important risk factors for falls in agreement with our findings.

Our results on BMD are consistent with other systematic reviews, showing no overall effect on BMD.^31–34 Earlier reviews suggested a positive effect on BMD in adolescents³² and in a subgroup analysis with improvements after LWBV on lumbar spine BMD³³ and HWBV on total hip BMD.³² We found a similar but small effect of side alternating vibration on lumbar spine BMD. In contrast to others, this systematic review also comprehensively assessed other bone parameters, that is, bone microarchitecture, turnover markers and BUA. We found one study assessing cortical porosity and trabecular BMD of tibia and radius²⁰ with no overall effect, which is in line with results found in a younger age group.⁴⁷ We found no effect on bone resorption markers in line with studies in younger participants.^{48 49} One study in this review had a positive effect in bone formation markers, but with logarithmic transformed data it could not be pooled with non-transformed data¹⁹ (see online supplementary figure 6). One study looked at BUA of the calcaneus showing a positive effect³⁹ in conflict with earlier findings from younger participants.⁴⁷ Animal data suggest an effect of WBV on bone strength,^15–18 but the same effect in humans is not evident. Reasons for this include diversities in training protocols, duration, adherence, damping of the vibration by the use of shoes and different standing positions on the vibration plates.

In summary, the the evidence from this systematic review indicate that WBV may reduce fall rate with moderate certainty and the risk of falls with low certainty. Future trials could enhance the certainty by systematically reporting falls when monitoring adverse effects, and if possible by blinding participants. The quality of evidence for the effect on bone parameters is moderate to low, partly since they are surrogate markers of fracture risk, and future research should focus on the critical outcome fractures with larger trial sizes and adequate follow-up.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our data show a reduced rate of falls by WBV. Only one study reported fractures showing a non-significant reduction. We found no effect on BMD, and the data on microarchitecture and bone turnover markers were sparse. WBV exercise could be implemented in current falls prevention guidelines. It might potentially reduce fractures by reducing falls, but the impact on fractures needs further larger adequately powered studies.