Efficacy of the whole-body vibration for pain, fatigue and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the quality of evidence on the use of whole-body vibration (WBV) in controlling pain, fatigue and quality of life in women with fibromyalgia.

Methods: The search involved MEDLINE/PubMed, LILACS, CINAHL, CENTRAL and PEDro, without temporal or language restriction. The terms “fibromyalgia” and “whole-body vibration” were used. Trials (randomized or quasi-randomized) that compared a group of women with fibromyalgia who received WBV to a control group with no intervention were included. The quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE system. The quantitative evaluation by meta-analysis was also used, whenever possible.

Results: Three studies were included. Regarding the outcome pain, it has not been possible to assess the magnitude of effect of treatment. The result of the outcome fatigue showed no difference between the groups after the proposed intervention (Mean Difference: 0.01; 95% CI: −0.11 to 0.09). The meta-analysis for the outcome quality of life showed a small difference between groups, favoring the WBV group (Standard Mean Difference: 0.4943; p = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.0045 to 0.9841).

Conclusions: The results, based on very low quality of evidence, were inconclusive regarding pain, and showed no clinically important effects on the control of fatigue and improvement of quality of life.

Implications for rehabilitation

• There is no evidence to support the use of whole-body vibration for pain treatment of women with fibromyalgia.

• The use of whole-body vibration in women with fibromyalgia showed no clinically important effects in the control of fatigue and improvement of quality of life.

Keywords:

• Whole-body vibration
• fibromyalgia
• pain
• fatigue
• quality of life

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.