Effectiveness of Combined Whole‑Body Vibration and Intensive Therapeutic Exercise on Functional Capacity in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract

Diseño del estudio: Ensayo controlado aleatorizado (n = 30 niños con parálisis cerebral espástica), comparación entre terapia intensiva basada en ejercicios terapéuticos y la misma intervención combinada con vibración de cuerpo completo (WBV) .

Duración del protocolo: 4 semanas; 4 sesiones/semana de ejercicio intensivo, más WBV diaria en el grupo experimental .

Variables evaluadas: Función motora gruesa (GMFM‑88 D y E), tono muscular (espasticidad), fuerza, equilibrio y capacidad de marcha.

Resultados principales: Mejoras significativas en ambos grupos a 1, 2 y 6 meses (p < 0.001). No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre grupos en los resultados primarios (GMFM‑88 D, p=0.80; GMFM‑88 E, p=0.91) ni en variables secundarias .

Conclusión científica: La adición de WBV a un programa intensivo de ejercicio terapéutico terapéutico y entrenamiento funcional no aporta beneficios adicionales en la función motora, la espasticidad la capacidad de andar, la fuerza muscular de las extremidades inferiores o el equilibrio en comparación con la fisioterapia intensiva y entrenamiento funcional intensivos en niños con parálisis cerebral espástica. Las mejoras significativas dentro del grupo experimental grupo pueden atribuirse a la intervención de fisioterapia intensiva, que comprende ejercicios terapéuticos y entrenamiento funcional.

Background and Objectives: Whole-body vibration (WBV) therapy presents controversial evidence regarding its effectiveness in improving lower limb functional capacity in children with cerebral palsy (CP), particularly when applied continuously as an adjunct to a physiotherapy program with demonstrated efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of adding WBV to an intensive therapeutic exercise and functional training program in improving lower limb functional capacity in children with spastic CP. Materials and Methods: Thirty children with spastic CP were randomly assigned to a control or experimental group. Both groups completed a 4-week intensive therapeutic exercise and functional training program (4 sessions/week). The experimental group additionally received daily WBV. Results: Both groups showed significant improvements in all analysed variables at 1, 2, and 6 months post-treatment (p < 0.001). However, no significant between-group differences were found for primary (GMFM-88 D: p = 0.80; GMFM-88 E: p = 0.91) or secondary outcomes in relation to muscle tone and strength, and balance. A trend toward greater improvement was observed in the experimental group but without statistical significance. Conclusions: The addition of WBV to an intensive program of therapeutic exercise and functional training does not yield additional benefits in motor function, spasticity, gait capacity, lower limb muscle strength, or balance compared to intensive physiotherapy and functional training alone in children with spastic CP. The significant within-group improvements can be attributed to the intensive physiotherapy intervention, comprising therapeutic exercises and functional training.