Skip to main content Skip to navigation

A to Z of MS Vibration therapy

Whole body vibration therapy (WBV) is delivered through a vibrating platform on which exercises are performed.

Research in healthy people suggests that the beneficial effects of the exercises are achieved in less time when using vibration therapy and might be similar to those achieved with resistance training.

Research into the effects of vibration therapy for people with MS is rather limited. A small pilot study in Glasgow, supported by the MS Trust, involved 12 people with MS carrying out a set of exercises with and without vibrations for a fixed number of sessions over a three month period. In general, the results demonstrated small improvements following both exercise and exercise combined with whole body vibration. Although whole body vibration did not lead to any statistically significant improvement in the measures, comments from the participants were generally positive. People reported fewer spasms at night, better sleep, improved ability to climb stairs and better sensation in their feet.

Further larger scale studies into the effects of whole body vibration are necessary to clarify its role in MS.

References

Schuhfried O, et al.
Effects of whole-body vibration in patients with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.
Clinical Rehabilitation 2005;19(8):834-842.
abstract

Schyns F, et al.
Vibration therapy in multiple sclerosis: a pilot study exploring its effects on tone, muscle force, sensation and functional performance.
Clinical Rehabilitation 2009;23(9):771-781.
abstract

Return to index