What type of study is this?

This is a Human Clinical Trial study (also classified as: RCT).

May 6, 2026

Effects of whole-body vibration exercise on lower limb spasticity for stroke survivors: a single-blind randomized controlled trial

YDYulin DongTongji University RXRuirui XingVictoria School of Management JYJiajia YaoShanghai Second People's Hospital

Key Points

To evaluate the effect of whole-body vibration exercise on lower limb spasticity in stroke survivors.
Single-blind randomized controlled trial design.
40 stroke survivors were randomly assigned to intervention or control groups.
Intervention group underwent 40 minutes of whole-body vibration and conventional therapy five times weekly for eight weeks.
Spasticity measured using the Modified Ashworth Scale and surface electromyography at baseline, week four, and week eight.
Intervention group showed a mean reduction of 0.45 points in spasticity on the Modified Ashworth Scale.
No significant between-group differences were noted at mid-intervention or post-intervention.
No significant outcomes were observed in surface electromyography or Fugl-Meyer Assessment.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Spasticity is a common condition among stroke survivors, and previous studies have explored the effects of whole-body vibration therapy for its benefits. However, the findings regarding lower limb spasticity remain inconsistent. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of eight-week whole-body vibration exercise on lower limb spasticity for stroke survivors. METHODS: This is a single-blind randomized controlled trial. The 40 participants were eligible to participate the study and were allocated randomly to either an intervention group or control group. The intervention group implemented as 40 min of conventional therapy sessions and whole-body vibration training daily, five times a week for eight weeks; the control group implemented the same movements on a vibration platform without vibration with daily habitual living styles. The measurements were assessed at baseline, week four, and week eight. Primary outcomes were measured using the Modified Ashworth Scale and surface electromyography to measure spasticity. The Fugl-Meyer assessment was measured as a secondary outcome. RESULTS: In the intervention group, spasticity of the triceps surae decreased by a mean of 0.45 points on the Modified Ashworth Scale from baseline to mid-intervention, and the same mean reduction was maintained at post-intervention. However, the statistical between-group differences were not observed at either mid-intervention or post-intervention. No significant between-group or within-group differences were observed in surface electromyography outcomes or Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores in either the intervention or control group. CONCLUSION: Whole-body vibration therapy may contribute to improvements in lower-limb spasticity in stroke survivors and demonstrates some moderate effect sizes. These findings suggest that whole-body vibration may have potential benefits as a long-term adjunct therapy in stroke rehabilitation.Trial registrationThe registration number is ChiCTR1900026439.

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