Effects of vibration therapy for post-stroke spasticity: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

• Published in: Biomedical engineering online 2023-12, Vol.22 (1), p.121-121, Article 121
• Main Authors: Zeng, Duchun, Lei, Wei, Kong, Yurou, Ma, Fenghao, Zhao, Kun, Ye, Xiangming, Tan, Tongcai
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; Gait; Human motion; Humans; Meta-analysis; Motor task performance; Pain; Physical therapy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Post-stroke spasticity; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Review; Spasticity; Stroke; Stroke - complications; Stroke - therapy; Subgroups; Therapeutics, Physiological; Vibration; Vibration - therapeutic use; Vibration analysis; Vibration effects; Vibration therapy
• ISSN: 1475-925X; 1475-925X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12938-023-01176-x

The efficacy of vibration therapy (VT) in people with post-stroke spasticity (PSS) remains uncertain. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of VT in PSS. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, and Web of Science were searched from inception to October 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of VT in people with PSS. The primary outcome was spasticity, and secondary outcomes included pain, motor function, gait performance, and adverse events. A meta‑analysis was performed by pooling the standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. Overall, VT had significant effects on reducing spasticity (SMD = - 0.77, 95% CI - 1.17 to - 0.36, P