Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Numerous studies have confirmed that whole-body vibration training has a definite therapeutic effect on osteoporosis, effectively improving balance function and enhancing prognostic quality in such patients. Herein, we systematically evaluate the effects of whole-body vibration training on lumbar bone density, pain scores, and fall incidence rates in patients with osteoporosis.
METHODS: The databases of PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data, and China Biology Medicine (CBM) were searched by computer to screen out randomized controlled trials of middle-aged and elderly patients with osteoporosis who underwent whole-body vibration training. The trial group received whole-body vibration training, and the control group received only additional treatment or no intervention. The literature search was conducted using a combination of free terms and subject headings, and the search terms included “whole-body vibration training,” “middle-aged and elderly,” “quinquagenarian,” “osteoporosis,” “vibration therapy,” “mechanical vibration,” “visual analogue scale score,” and “fall incidence rates.” The retrieval period covered from the inception of each database to December 2024. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 statistical software.
RESULTS: This meta-analysis included 10 randomized controlled trials with a total of 656 patients. The analysis results showed no statistically significant differences in lumbar bone mineral density [mean difference (MD)=0.01, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.01 to 0.04, P=0.22], radial trabecular volumetric bone mineral density [MD=-0.87, 95% CI: -2.93 to 1.20, P=0.41], and tibial trabecular volumetric bone mineral density [MD=0.34, 95% CI: -0.69 to 1.38, P=0.52] between the two groups. However, the whole-body vibration training group had a significantly lower visual analog scale score [MD=-1.48, 95% CI: -2.91 to -0.05, P=0.04] and a lower fall incidence rate compared to the control group [odds ratio=0.52, 95% CI: 0.29 to 0.92, P=0.03].
CONCLUSION: Whole-body vibration training can significantly alleviate pain and reduce the incidence of falls in middle-aged and elderly patients, but the effect of improving lumbar bone mineral density is not obvious, and more research and follow-up with higher quality and longer intervention time are needed to further verify the conclusion.

Key words: whole-body vibration training, osteoporosis, middle-aged and elderly, vibration therapy, mechanical vibration, pain, fall incidence, systematic evaluation