Introduction: Chronic low-back pain presents one of the most common problems of the general population nowadays. Physical activity is an effective intervention when controlling and treating this kind of pain. It relates to increasing physical disability and to being absent from work. Because of multimorbidity and intensive exercise programs, some people unfortunately cannot participate in them. The popularity of whole-body vibration has increased over the last decade when referring to healthy individuals as well as patients with chronic low-back pain. It is expected that whole-body vibration reduces pain, improves balance, flexibility and muscle strength and thus affects the quality of life. Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to determine how whole-body vibration affects patients with chronic low-back pain. Methods: A descriptive method of research was used. Professional and scientific literature was reviewed in COBISS+, PEDro and PubMed. We used 6 studies, which were published between the years 2002 and 2018. Results: The studies investigated the effects of whole-body vibration on patients with chronic low-back pain. The positive effects mentioned are the reduction of pain sensation and disability, better muscle performance, balance and flexibility, and the reduction of depression (during the exercise protocol) among these patients. The pain decreased the most when the protocol lasted 12 weeks and when an exercise unit lasted 4 minutes 2 times a week at first and then 7 minutes once a week. Pain decreased the least when an exercise unit lasted 1 minute and then 6 minutes, both 2 times a week. More efficient than that was the exercise with dynamic contractions. Disability decreased during exercise protocols, but then increased again a few weeks after the end. Trunk muscle performance increased during exercise protocols. The horizontal whole-body vibration is as effective as the vertical whole-body vibration. Discussion and conclusion: Chronic low-back pain is a very common symptom of different diseases or disabilities. The results reveal that the whole-body vibration exercises are effective when treating this kind of pain. They can be used as a modality for controlling pain and effects of the pain or as an addition in combination to other physiotherapeutic procedures.
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