The Clinical Utility of Whole Body Vibration: A Review of the Different Types and Dosing for Application in Metabolic Diseases

Abstract

Whole body vibration (WBV) is an innovative exercise mimetic that utilizes a vibrating platform to transmit mechanical vibrations throughout the body. WBV has been a popular area of research in recent years due to its potential physiological and therapeutic benefits in both health and disease. The utility of WBV is rooted in the various parameters (i.e., frequency, amplitude, duration) that affect the overall dose of vibration delivered to the body. Each type of WBV, coupled with these aforementioned parameters, should be considered when evaluating the use of WBV in the clinical setting. Thus, the purpose of this review is to provide an overview of recent literature detailing the different types of WBV, the various parameters that contribute to WBV efficacy, and the evidence of WBV in metabolic disease. A systematic search was conducted using Medline, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and PubMed. All types of study designs were considered, with exclusions made for animal studies, duplicates, and study protocols without data. Thirty-four studies were included. In conclusion, as a modern exercise mimetic with therapeutic potential for metabolic diseases, understanding the interplay between the types and dosing of WBV is critical for determining its utility and efficacy. Further studies are certainly needed to elucidate the full therapeutic potential of WBV in metabolic diseases.