Peng et al. (2025) — Whole-Body Vibration as an Adjunct to Rehabilitation for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
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Study Details
Study: Effects of whole-body vibration training as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation exercise on pain, physical function and disability in knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Peng Y, Qi Q, Lee CL, Tay YL, Chai SC, Ahmad MA
Journal: PLOS ONE
Year: 2025
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0318635
Study type: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Population: Adults with knee osteoarthritis. 16 randomised controlled trials, 589 participants total. Comprehensive search across eight electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, PEDro, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and CNKI) through February 2024. Registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024508386).
Plain-English Summary
This 2025 meta-analysis examined whether adding whole-body vibration (WBV) training to conventional rehabilitation exercise improves outcomes for people with knee osteoarthritis, compared with conventional rehabilitation alone. This is specifically an adjunct question — WBV added on top of standard exercise therapy, not WBV as a stand-alone replacement.
The review pooled evidence across three outcome domains: pain, physical function, and disability.
What Researchers Examined
- Pain
- Physical function
- Disability
- WBV as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation exercise specifically (not WBV alone)
Key Findings
Pooling 16 RCTs (589 participants), WBV training added to conventional rehabilitation exercise significantly reduced knee pain compared with conventional rehabilitation alone (mean difference = −0.43, 95% CI [−0.70, −0.16], p = 0.002), with a greater effect associated with higher-frequency WBV protocols. The combination also increased isokinetic knee peak torque. There was no significant difference in balance, functional mobility, or disability between the WBV-adjunct group and conventional rehabilitation alone.
Methodology Notes
This study asks an adjunct question, not a stand-alone one — its findings apply to WBV added on top of conventional rehabilitation exercise, not WBV alone. The population is people already engaged in conventional knee-OA rehabilitation.
Mixed result across outcomes: the significant benefit was specific to pain reduction and knee extensor strength (isokinetic peak torque) — balance, functional mobility, and disability did not show a statistically significant benefit from adding WBV, which is an important nuance not to elide when citing this study.
Full Citation
Peng Y, Qi Q, Lee CL, Tay YL, Chai SC, Ahmad MA. (2025). Effects of whole-body vibration training as an adjunct to conventional rehabilitation exercise on pain, physical function and disability in knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0318635
PROSPERO registration: CRD42024508386
Disclaimer: Research cited throughout this library is independent, peer-reviewed scientific work published in international journals. BGREEN and Turtlegym products are wellness and lifestyle equipment — they are not medical devices and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. Persons with health conditions should consult a qualified healthcare professional before use.