A few years ago, while attending a medical conference, I wandered through the exhibit hall and met a representative who was trying to sell devices that purported to vibrate the whole body (WBV) in such a fashion as to increase muscle tone & strength as well as bone mineral density. Supposedly there were no down sides to this device that had been used by Communist & Eastern Bloc countries (look at high successful they've been!). Unfortunately, when I asked for evidence demonstrating clinical outcomes, he could not really offer me much.
Fast forward several years and WBV is beginning to catch our collective attention.
Last December, a meta-analysis of 8 randomized studies demonstrated some improvement in bone mineral density (BMD) as well as dynamic balance in the elderly. Interestingly, the authors had to cull these 8 studies from among 1,302 trials from over 10yrs, most of which didn't make the cut.
Earlier this month, another meta-analysis of 15 studies demonstrated improvement in dynamic balance in the elderly.
However, in a
study published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the authors found no benefit on BMD in postmenopausal women from standing on a low magnitude device at 0.3g at 90Hz or 30Hz for 20min/d x 12mo vs placebo. A
review of the evidence published in the same issue concluded that there is not enough clinical outcome data to support or deny the use of WBV.
As with many new & promising drugs & therapeutic modalities, just because the theory makes sense, just because it worked in lab rats, doesn't imply that there's any benefit in humans. As with new drugs, don't be the first but don't be the last, either.
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