Academic Journal
Optimizing focal vibration therapy for balance and gait: A systematic review.
| Τίτλος: | Optimizing focal vibration therapy for balance and gait: A systematic review. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Wang H; Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Florida, United States. Electronic address: Hongwu.wang@ufl.edu., Chandrashekhar R; Human Engineering Research Laboratory, Department of Veterans Affairs and University of Pittsburgh, United States., Borgia BH; Department of Physical Therapy, Quinnipiac University, United States., Ruffling KW; Department of Neurology, University of Florida and Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, United States. |
| Πηγή: | Gait & posture [Gait Posture] 2026 Oct; Vol. 130, pp. 110241. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 04. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article; Systematic Review |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Elsevier Sciencem Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9416830 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-2219 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 09666362 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Gait Posture Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: <2007->: Oxford, UK : Elsevier Sciencem Original Publication: Oxford, UK : Butterworth-Heinemann, c1993- |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Vibration*/therapeutic use , Postural Balance*/physiology , Gait*/physiology, Muscle, Skeletal/physiology ; Muscle, Skeletal/physiopathology ; Humans ; Biomechanical Phenomena |
| Περίληψη: | Objective: This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of focal (localized) vibration therapy (FVT) applied to muscles/tendons on balance, gait, and mobility, with a specific focus on defining optimal vibration protocols (frequency, amplitude, dosing) and muscle-targeting strategies to maximize sensorimotor recovery. Methods: A systematic review was conducted across six databases (CINHAL, Embase, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, CENTRAL) from January 2000 to May 2025. Studies were included if they involved human participants, applied FVT therapeutically, and reported balance, gait, or mobility outcomes. Data extraction included study characteristics, intervention protocols, and outcomes. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Results: Sixty-two studies (n = 2090 participants) were included. Methodological quality assessment (PEDro scale) indicated 44% of studies met high-quality standards. Biomechanical analysis identified the quadriceps, gastrocnemius/soleus, and plantar muscles as the most effective vibration sites, given their critical roles in gait propulsion and postural stability. The synthesis of protocol data indicated a promising therapeutic window characterized by a vibration frequency of 80-120 Hz (primarily fixed sinusoidal waveforms at a single frequency) and an amplitude of 0.2-0.5 mm (reported only in 12 studies; amplitude was not reported in 23 studies), applied bilaterally for a minimum of 3 sessions per week over 4-12 weeks, which could lead to improved balance and gait performance with benefits sustained for up to 5 months. Conclusion: FVT shows potential to improve gait and balance, particularly when targeting lower-extremity muscles with optimized vibration parameters. To advance the field, future research must prioritize the development of standardized protocols and investigate neurophysiological mechanisms to refine FVT as a precision bioengineering solution for mobility deficits. (Copyright © 2026 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of Competing Interest All the authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Center of pressure; Focal vibration; Gait analysis; Mobility; Postural control; Proprioception |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260605 Date Completed: 20260822 Latest Revision: 20260919 |
| Update Code: | 20260919 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2026.110241 |
| PMID: | 42248131 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1879-2219 |
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| DOI: | 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2026.110241 |