Introduction: Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disorder in the aging population and is characterized by the loss of articular cartilage, thickening of the subchondral bone and the formation of osteophytes, which lead to structural and functional impairments of the joint. Amongst the joints affected by osteoarthritis, the knee is the most prevalent. Patients often suffer from knee pain, stiffness, loss of mobility and decreased muscle strength. Physiotherapy is used to alleviate symptoms and includes various physical modalities as well as kinesiotherapy. Recently, whole-body vibration therapy has been recommended as an effective addition or alternative to resistance strength training. Purpose: The aim of this diploma work was to demonstrate the effects of whole-body vibration therapy on pain and muscle strength, endurance, and power in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: PubMed, PEDro and Cohrane Library databases were searched, using the key words: whole-body vibration, vibration therapy and knee osteoarthritis. We selected the studies for further analysis based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Five randomized controlled trials published between 2016 and 2021 met the criteria. The included studies compared whole-body vibration exercise programs with control groups, who completed the same exercise programs, but without vibration. The included studies were considered of good quality, as they all scored equal to or higher than 6 on the PEDro scale. The results of the analysed studies showed that whole-body vibration therapy can reduce pain and is more effective in improving muscle strength and power of the knee extensors. Whole-body vibration was not associated with significant changes in knee flexor strength. Discussion and conclusion: This review suggest that adding whole-body vibration therapy may provide better treatment effects for patients with knee osteoarthritis. However, due to the methodological differences of the studies we cannot draw clear conclusions regarding the best exercise program. Future research should aim to determine the best frequency, duration, and intensity of whole-body vibration therapy.
|