Affiliation:
1. Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Marg, New Delhi 110025, India
2. Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia
Abstract
Background: Non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) presents significant treatment challenges due to its multifactorial nature. Whole-body vibration exercise (WBVE) has emerged as a potential therapeutic modality, offering benefits across various domains, including pain reduction, improved balance, and enhanced quality of life (QoL). The aim of this present systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the effects of WBVE on pain, disability, balance, proprioception, functional performance, and QoL in individuals with NSCLBP. Methods: We comprehensively searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and CENTRAL databases from October 2023 to January 2024, including RCTs with a PEDro score of ≥5 for high-quality evidence. Outcome measures included pain intensity, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) score, balance, proprioception, functional performance (through a progressive iso-inertial lifting evaluation), and QoL (SF-36) in NSCLBP patients. The risk of bias was assessed using ROB-2, and the certainty of evidence for each outcome indicator was analyzed using GRADE. A meta-analysis was conducted using standardized mean differences (SMD) and mean differences (MD) for continuous outcomes. Results: Ten randomized controlled trials fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the systematic review, and nine were suitable for the meta-analysis. The qualitative synthesis revealed WBVE is effective in improving pain, disability, balance, proprioception, and functional performance and QoL. Further, the results of the quantitative review demonstrated WBVE significantly reduced pain [visual analogue scale: SMD = −0.81, 95% CI (−1.11, −0.50), I2 = 0%, p < 0.01], disability [ODI: MD = −3.78, 95% CI (−5.27, −2.29), I2 = 24%, p < 0.01]; RMDQ: MD = −1.43, 95% CI (−2.04, −0.82), I2 = 51%, p < 0.01], balance [SMD = −0.28, 95% CI (−0.52, −0.05), I2 = 0%, p = 0.02], and proprioception [SMD = −4.20, 95% CI (−7.50, −0.89), I2 = 99%, p = 0.01]. Conclusions: This review and meta-analysis indicate that WBVE significantly improves pain, disability, balance and proprioception in individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain. These findings suggest potential benefits of incorporating WBVE into the management strategies for NSCLBP.