Abstract:

Objective To construct a research framework for systematic review of health and functional outcomes of whole body vibration training in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy based on the theory and method of World Health Organization Family of International Health Classifications (WHO-FICs), and to systematically review the major health conditions and physical functions, intervention programs of whole body vibration training, and health and functional outcomes of vibration intervention in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.

Methods Based on the WHO-FICs method, the PICO architecture of systematic reviews was constructed, and the databases of CNKI, Wanfang Data, PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Embase were searched to collect randomized controlled trials about the health and functional effects of whole body vibration training on children and adolescents with cerebral palsy from the establishment to September 30th, 2022, and a systematic review was conducted.

Results Eight articles, seven in English and one in Chinese, from five countries, were included, mainly from journals in clinical rehabilitation, neurorehabilitation, physical medicine and rehabilitation, etc., published mainly after 2010, involving 227 participants (three to 12.3 years old). The quality of the articles was evaluated using the Physical Therapy Evidence Database scale with a mean score of six. The ICD-11 codes included 08 diseases of the nervous system, 8D20 spastic cerebral palsy, 8D20.1 spastic bilateral cerebral palsy, 8D20.10 spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy and 8D2Z unspecified cerebral palsy. The primary functioning of cerebral palsy was characterized as muscle spasticity, abnormal skeletal development, joint deformities and muscle weakness, decrease of selective motor control and gait abnormalities; for the activity and participation, the functioning included walking difficulties, decrease of mobility and weight loading, and low levels of physical activities. The main intervention was whole body vibration, in postures of lying, squatting or standing, mainly standing, in the mode of vertical vibration. The frequency was 5 to 30 Hz, and the amplitude was below 9 mm, three to five times a week for eight weeks to six months. The intervention settings include medical institutions, schools and families; mainly for therapeutics and recovery. The health and health-related outcomes were mainly involved s7 structures related to movement, b710 mobility of joint functions, b730 muscle power functions, b735 muscle tone functions, b760 control of voluntary movement functions, d410 changing basic body position, d415 maintaining a body position, d450 walking, d455 moving around, and d420 transferring oneself; such as improvements of neuromusculoskeletal and joint functions, muscle spasm, static balance, muscle strength, and control of movement, the control of body posture and walking, range of activities and self-care.

Conclusion Whole body vibration training is effective on cerebral palsy, mainly in standing position, 5 to 30 Hz, and amplitude below 9 mm; three to five times a week for eight weeks to six months. The outcomes of whole body vibration training are mainly reflected in the improvement of body-motor functions, and activity and participation.

Key words: cerebral palsy, whole body vibration training, children, adolescents, rehabilitation, systematic review