PURPOSE: This review describes the effects of whole body vibration therapy (WBV) for reducing fat mass (%/kg) among healthy (no comorbid disease) overweight and obese adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Systematic literature search was conducted using Medline, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and PubMed databases up to 27th March 2019. Studies evaluating the effects of WBV therapy on fat mass as a primary or secondary outcome among healthy (no comorbid disease), overweight or obese adults (body mass index >= 25) were included. RESULTS: Following the search, 2,420 studies were reviewed and 1,603 studies were selected for title and abstract screening. Of 153 studies considered for full-text review, 13 controlled trials were included in the systematic review. Two meta-analyses were performed for five studies. The first random effects (I2 = 70%, p-value = 0.02) meta-analysis, revealed a statistically significant mean change for percent fat mass (-2.56, 95% CI -3.81 to -1.31). The second fixed effects meta-analysis, revealed a significant mean change (-1.91, 95% CI -2.64 to -1.18) for fat mass/kg. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analyses indicate a positive effect of whole body vibration therapy on reducing fat mass (%/kg), especially when combined with conventional weight loss interventions specifically, diet and exercise.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher