Skip to content

Randomised trial, 2008

Does whole body vibration combined with exercise improve fibromyalgia symptoms?

Whole body vibration combined with exercises showed some improvement in fibromyalgia impact at 6 months compared to exercises alone, though the effect was modest.

Early or limited evidence 20 fibromyalgia patients with mean age 57 years

What they did

A single-blind randomized trial with 20 fibromyalgia patients (mean age 57 years). One group (n=10) did 6 exercises combined with whole body vibration at 30 hz frequency and 2 mm amplitude for 4 weeks. The other group (n=10) did the same exercises without vibration. They were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months using pain, fibromyalgia impact, and depression scales.

What they found

Only the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire score was significantly better in the vibration group at 6 months (p = 0.043). Pain scores and depression scores were not significantly different between groups.

What it means for you

Whole body vibration added to exercises might slightly help fibromyalgia. However, the study was very small (20 people) and only one of three measures showed improvement, so the overall benefit is unclear. This study is about fibromyalgia, not PMS or PMDD.

20

fibromyalgia patients

30 hz

vibration frequency

6 months

follow-up period

About the study

Original title
Psychiatric bridges- finding a linkage between fibromyalgia and the premenstrual syndrome
Authors
Daniella Amital, Leah Fostick, A. Silberman et al.
Journal
European Psychiatry
Year
2008
Study design
Randomised trial
Participants
10
What was tested
Whole body vibration (30 hz, 2 mm amplitude) combined with 6 exercises for 4 weeks

Topics