Effects of muscle tendon vibration on balance after stroke: systematic review

Abstract

ABSTRACT After cerebrovascular accident (CVA), people have complex combinations of sensory, motor, cognitive, and emotional deficits, which can affect static and dynamic balance. This study aimed to compile and summarize the main features and findings of protocols used in research that investigated the effects of muscle tendon vibration on static and dynamic balance in adults with stroke. This is a systematic review, registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022303874), in which searches were performed in the databases PubMed, Cochrane, LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, Science Direct, and PEDro, during the month of January 2022, using the combination of keywords related to “stroke,” “balance,” “muscle tendon vibration,” “randomized controlled trial.” Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. A total of 1,560 studies were identified, 11 of which were included, between the years 1994 to 2020, involving 242 post-stroke adults. Only five studies used vibration as an intervention and found an improvement in static and dynamic balance. Six studies analyzed the interference of vibration on postural control, showing that balance was affected during the application of vibration and that individuals needed more time to recover or did not experience significant differences. We found that the effects of muscle tendon vibration may be able to improve balance in people with stroke and influence postural control by proprioceptive mechanisms of vibration. However, more studies of high methodological quality are needed to reach a consensus regarding muscle tendon vibration treatment protocols and their recommendation in clinical practice.