Qiu et al. (2025) — Effects of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Muscle Performance in Healthy Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
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Study Details
Study: Effects of whole-body vibration training on muscle performance in healthy women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Qiu B, Wang Z, Yin M, Feng J, Diao P, Del Coso J, Taiar R
Journal: PLOS One
Year: 2025
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322010
Study type: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Population: Healthy women (various ages). 21 RCTs, 748 participants total.
Plain-English Summary
This 2025 meta-analysis evaluated whole-body vibration training's (WBVT) effect on muscle strength and power in healthy women — not a sarcopenia-specific population, but relevant background evidence on the same underlying mechanism this library covers elsewhere for older and at-risk populations.
What Researchers Examined
- Knee extension strength
- Leg press strength
- Ankle plantar flexion strength
- Countermovement jump performance (power)
Key Findings
Versus non-exercise control groups, WBVT significantly improved knee extension strength (SMD = 0.534, 95% CI [0.303, 0.766], p < 0.001), leg press strength (SMD = 0.794, 95% CI [0.424, 1.163], p < 0.001), ankle plantar flexion strength (SMD = 0.462, 95% CI [0.019, 0.904], p = 0.041), and countermovement jump performance (SMD = 0.470, 95% CI [0.211, 0.729], p < 0.001).
Versus active exercise control groups, WBVT significantly improved only countermovement jump performance (SMD = 0.338, 95% CI [0.037, 0.640], p = 0.028) — no significant advantage over other exercise was found for strength measures.
Subgroup analyses found longer WBV programmes (≥12 weeks) and higher vibration frequencies (>30 Hz) produced greater strength benefits, and post-menopausal women gained more muscle power from WBVT than pre-menopausal women.
Methodology Notes
WBV beats doing nothing, but not necessarily other exercise. The clearest, most defensible reading of this study: WBV training is better than no exercise for strength and power in healthy women, but its edge over active exercise alternatives is limited to jump/power performance specifically — readers should not extrapolate a general "WBV beats regular exercise" claim from this study.
Population is healthy women, not a clinical or elderly-specific group — included here as broader mechanistic evidence, not as sarcopenia-specific data.
Full Citation
Qiu B, Wang Z, Yin M, Feng J, Diao P, Del Coso J, Taiar R. (2025). Effects of whole-body vibration training on muscle performance in healthy women: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLOS One, 20(5), e0322010. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0322010
Disclaimer: Research cited throughout this library is independent, peer-reviewed scientific work published in international journals. BGREEN and Turtlegym products are wellness and lifestyle equipment — they are not medical devices and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition. Persons with health conditions should consult a qualified healthcare professional before use.