Introduction: Among chronic diseases, knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a joint disease that causes important progressive alterations in the articular and periarticular structures, including synovial inflammation. Exercise has been suggested as an intervention to KOA individuals, and studies suggest that whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise decreases pain levels and favours the functionality of KOA individuals. Objective: The aim of the present study is to analyze the acute effects of WBV exercise on pain levels, functionality (Timed Up and Go (TUG test), anterior trunk flexion (ATF)), and rating of exertion of elderly obese KOA individuals. Methods: Thirty-seven individuals with KOA were allocated to a WBV exercise group (WBVEG), n = 19 (15 females/4 males), and a control group (CG), n = 18 (15 females/3 males). WBVEG performed one session of WBV exercise (11 min, using 5 Hz, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mm, 0.12, 0.25, and 0.37 g). Three bouts were performed (working time of 3 min and rest time of 1 min) using a side-alternating vibrating platform (VP). The same position was used in CG; however, the VP was turned off and there was equipment coupled to the VP that emitted a sound like the vibrations. The pain level was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS). Functionality was evaluated with a TUG test and ATF. The rating of subjectively perceived exertion was measured with the category ratio CR-10 (BORG Scale CR-10), Results: A reduction of pain levels in WBVEG after the intervention (p = 0.001) and intergroups (p = 0.041) was found. A decrease of TUG test time in both groups (p = 0.001) and intergroups (p = 0.045) was found, while no statistical changes were observed in the Borg Scale score. Significant improvements of flexibility in both groups (p = 0.001) and intergroups (p = 0.043) were found. Conclusion: One session of WBV exercise can lead to important improvements in individuals with KOA, possibly triggered by physiological responses. However, more studies are needed, in this clinical context, to confirm these results.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) can cause functional disability. Neuromuscular function is relevant in the development and progression of KOA. It can be evaluated by the analysis of the surface electromyography (sEMG), which has an important role in the understanding of KOA. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is an intervention suggested to treat KOA. The objective of this work was to verify the effectiveness of WBV on the functionality of lower limbs by the electromyographic profile of the vastus lateralis (VL) muscles during the five-repetition chair stand test (5CST) in patients with KOA. This was a two-period crossover trial study (8-week washout). Nineteen patients with KOA were allocated to the group submitted to WBV (WBVG), with peak-to-peak displacement of 2.5 to 7.5 mm, frequency from 5 to 14 Hz, and acceleration peak from 0.12 to 2.95 g, or to the control group (0 Hz) (2 days per week for 5 weeks). The 5CST and the sEMG of the VL during 5CST were evaluated before and after the interventions. Results: Significant differences in 5CST were evident only in WBVG (p = 0.018), showing a decrease of the execution time. The sEMG profile showed no significative difference. Therefore, only 10 sessions of WBV with comfortable posture can bring about improvement in functionality of KOA patients without alteration of the muscle excitation.

Introduction: Emerging evidence indicates that whole-body vibration (WBV) may be a relevant adjunct in interventions targeting overweight and obese individuals. Moreover, WBV has been applied in combination with other exercise modalities and therapeutic strategies, with various physiological responses observed in this population. Objective: The current systematic review aimed to assess the physiological effects of WBV with other modalities of exercises in overweight and obese individuals. Methods: Searches in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were conducted to assess physiological responses to the combination of WBV with other modalities of exercises in overweight and obese individuals. Publications were identified and the screening was performed by two reviewers, independently. Irrelevant studies were excluded based on the eligibility criteria. Results: Seven studies, analyzing different outcomes, were included, with a mean methodological quality score of 7. Four studies analyzed the acute effect and three studied the cumulative effect, with different intervention protocols. Increases in growth hormone (GH) concentrations and bioelectrical phase angles, and reductions in fat mass, blood triglycerides, and cholesterol concentrations, as well as blood pressure, heart rate, and arterial stiffness, were reported. Conclusions: WBV combined with other exercise modalities seems to promote important physiological responses in overweight and obese individuals. However, more large-scale, long-term randomized controlled trials with WBV and other modalities of exercises in overweight and obese cohorts are needed to corroborate and expand the findings of the current systematic review.

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a growing health challenge with increasing prevalence. Early diagnosis and effective interventions are crucial to the management of KOA individuals. Vibration therapy has shown promise as an intervention for KOA. Systemic vibratory therapy (SVT) and local vibratory therapy (LVT) have gained interest in recent years. In these therapies, mechanical vibrations are transmitted to the body either systemically or locally. The current systematic review aims to comprehensively summarize SVT and LVT effects on the functional capacity of KOA individuals. Searches in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PEDro, and EMBASE on 3 July 2024, including only randomized controlled trials, were performed. The data collected were participant characteristics, vibrating devices, intervention duration, and main findings. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed with Cochrane tools, and methodological quality (MQ) was assessed via the Physiotherapy Evidence Database. Nine papers were selected from 922 articles: five on SVT and four on LVT, involving 352 individuals aged 40–80. SVT studies reported acute or chronic responses like increased muscle strength and improved functional capacity. LVT studies also indicated functional capacity improvements. RoB was classified as ‘high’ in three SVT studies and ‘low’ in two LVT studies. MQ was classified as ‘high’ in five SVT studies and one LVT study. Both SVT and LVT studies reported improvements in muscle strength, range of motion, and functional capacity. The current review revealed beneficial effects of both therapies on the functional capacity of KOA individuals. However, further well-designed studies are needed to reach definitive conclusions about the effect of SVT and LVT for KOA individuals.

Background: Obesity, defined as an abnormal accumulation of body fat, is becoming a global epidemic. Individuals with obesity may present with increased abdominal fat, which is associated with hypertension, altered respiratory mechanics, higher resting heart rate, and may contribute to an increased cardiovascular risk. Physiological parameters, such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation, can change hours before the occurrence of a clinically relevant adverse event. Thus, physiological parameters can be considered good predictors of clinical deterioration. Obesity is also associated with physical dysfunctions that can impair physical performance. The non-pharmacological therapeutic strategy for the treatment of obesity involves lifestyle modifications, including a healthy diet and regular physical exercise. Whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise, a type of physical activity, has demonstrated benefits in several specific populations, including obese individuals. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the immediate effects of a single whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise session, consisting of 15 sets, using a vibration platform (VP) with alternating vertical or lateral displacement, on physiological parameters, perceived exertion, strength, and functionality in obese adults. Methods: Seventy-two obese adult participants were randomly divided into three groups (vertical group, alternating lateral group, and placebo group). Physiological parameters were assessed before, during, and after the intervention, in addition to perceived exertion, functionality, and muscle strength. Results: When comparing the results before and after the intervention, the heart rate–pressure product increased significantly in the alternating lateral group (p = 0.005), and heart rate increased significantly (p = 0.0001) and then decreased significantly (p = 0.030) only in the alternating lateral group. Post hoc analysis revealed a significant increase in perceived exertion in the lateral alternation group, from the period before the intervention to the 10th set (p = 0.006) and from the period before to the period after the intervention (p = 0.011). In the vertical group, a significant increase was observed from the period before the intervention to the 10th set (p = 0.020). Conclusions: In conclusion, considering all the findings of this study, whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise promoted some immediate changes in physiological parameters and perception of effort in obese adults. WBV exercise with the alternating vibration platform induced significant fluctuations in heart rate and increased the heart rate–blood pressure product, although with values within the normal range. Perception of effort increased in all groups. Considering the absence of discrepant changes in physiological parameters, impact on the cardiovascular system, and fatigue, the WBV exercise intervention in side-alternating or vertical vibration vibratory platforms can be considered a viable non-conventional exercise option for the obese population.