Date of Award
2023
Degree Type
Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review
Degree Name
Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant
Department
Physician Assistant Studies
Abstract
Objective: The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine if whole-body vibration therapy, when used as an adjuvant to conventional physical therapy, improves gross motor function in patients aged 21 or younger with cerebral palsy (CP).
Study Design: A systematic review of two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one case series published between 2015 and 2022.
Data Sources: The research was published in peer-reviewed journals and accessible through a search using PubMed. Studies were selected based upon a more recent date of publish and their ability to gauge gross motor function by using a patient-oriented outcome measure.
Outcomes: Two of the articles used the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), while one article used a chair rising test to assess improvements in gross motor function.
Results: Stark et al. found no statistically significant difference in mean GMFM score change from baseline between the treatment and control groups, citing that the mean improvement from baseline in GMFM-66 score in the treatment and control group was 2.4 ± 2.1 and was 3.3 ± 2.9, respectively, and the mean difference was – 0.9 (p=0.412). Gusso et al. found that the mean change from baseline in the chair rising test was – 1.51 seconds (p=0.0004), indicating a significant improvement in time necessary to complete the task. Tekin et al. found that the treatment group had a statistically significantly greater improvement in GMFM-88 score and GMFM-88 Category E score than the control group. For GMFM-88, the treatment group improved by an average of 2.37 (p=0.004), compared to 0.45 in the control group (p=0.749). For GMFM-88 Category E, the treatment group improved by an average of 14.45 (p=0.009), compared to 1.81 in the control group (p=0.594).
Conclusion: Regarding if whole-body vibration therapy, when used as an adjuvant to conventional physical therapy, improves gross motor function in patients aged 21 or younger with cerebral palsy, the data is inconclusive. It is likely that whole-body vibration therapy is effective at improving gross motor function when used as an adjuvant to conventional physical therapy in a population 11 to 18 years old classified in GMFCS levels I - III (mild to moderate CP).
Recommended Citation
Walker, Jordyn, "Does whole-body vibration therapy improve gross motor function in patients 21 years old or younger with cerebral palsy?" (2023). PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship. 662.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/pa_systematic_reviews/662