Effects of Whole-Body Vibration on Exercise Performance among Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Abstract

Whole-body vibration (WBV), an intervention for enhancing athletes' exercise performance (muscle strength and power), is often used either as a supplement or an alternative to conventional training. The current systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the effects of WBV on exercise performance in athletes. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials published from database inception to April 2024. We analyzed three key components of exercise performance: muscle power (measured in terms of countermovement jump (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) height), strength (measured in terms of isometric and concentric torque of the knee extensors and flexors), and aerobic cardiovascular endurance (measured in terms of maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max)). This review included 18 randomized controlled trials. WBV significantly improved concentric torque of the knee extensors and flexors, with effect sizes of 8.86 (95% confidence interval: 6.00 to 11.72; I² = 0%; p < 0.00001) and 9.56 (95% confidence interval: 7.40 to 11.72; I² = 0%; p < 0.00001), respectively. However, no significant changes were noted in the indicators of muscle power or cardiovascular endurance. Overall, our findings suggest that WBV interventions can enhance lower-limb strength in athletes. However, the quality of the evidence was low. To provide effective evidence-based guidance for WBV, future studies should consider participants' characteristics as well as intervention frequency, intensity, and duration in their analysis.