Effects of whole-body vibration on animal models of neurodegenerative diseases: A systematic review.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The incidence of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) is gradually increasing with the aging. Non-pharmacological treatments have positive effects on delaying the progression of NDs. While regular exercise is known to benefit patients, the therapeutic potential of whole-body vibration (WBV) remains understudied. PURPOSE: This systematic review aims to synthesize evidence from animal models to evaluate WBV's efficacy in improving ND-related outcomes and to explore the relationships between WBV parameters (frequency, amplitude, duration) and functional improvements. METHODS: PubMed and Web of Science were searched from 1983 to 24 February 2025 for animal studies that reported the improvement of brain function or performance after WBV exposure. Based on 11 original publications of good scientific standard, according to the PRISMA statement, we analyzed information on study design, animal characteristics and exposure and outcome variables. RESULTS: According to the risk of bias assessment results obtained using the SYRCLE risk of bias tool, none of the included studies fully meet all methodological criteria, which may lead to potential bias. These selected studies have demonstrated WBV has potential therapeutic benefits in animal models of NDs, including motor performance, cognitive function and emotional regulation. In addition, system analysis reveals relationships between specific vibration parameters (frequency, amplitude, duration) and their interactions with different outcomes. CONCLUSION: WBV holds significant potential as a non-invasive adjunct therapy for NDs, particularly Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Future research should prioritize protocol standardization and translational trials to validate efficacy in human ND populations.