Seok et al. (2025) — Whole-Body Vibration and Cognitive Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
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Study Details
Study: Effects of whole-body vibration on cognitive function: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Seok JW, Kim JU, Kim JD
Journal: GeroScience (Springer Nature)
Year: 2025
DOI: 10.1007/s11357-025-01914-0
Study type: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
Population: 16 RCTs yielding 37 effect sizes across cognitive outcome measures, predominantly older adults and individuals with physical limitations.
Plain-English Summary
This 2025 meta-analysis asked whether whole-body vibration (WBV) — a low-intensity, passive intervention — measurably affects cognitive function, particularly in older adults or people with physical limitations for whom conventional exercise-based cognitive interventions are harder to sustain.
Pooling 16 randomised controlled trials, the review found a small but statistically significant positive effect of WBV on overall cognitive function, with the clearest signal on global cognition measures.
What Researchers Examined
- Overall cognitive function (37 pooled effect sizes)
- Global cognition
- Executive function
- Attention
- Memory
- Moderating variables via meta-regression
Key Findings
Overall cognitive function: small but statistically significant positive effect — Hedges' g = 0.375 (95% CI 0.263 to 0.486, p < .001).
By subdomain: global cognition showed the largest effect (g = 0.55), followed by executive function (g = 0.41), attention (g = 0.28), and memory (g = 0.28).
Moderators: meta-regression found that most tested moderating variables (e.g. protocol differences) were not statistically significant predictors of effect size.
Methodology Notes
This is a modest-but-real effect, not a large one — Hedges' g around 0.3–0.5 is generally interpreted as a small-to-moderate effect size, not a dramatic one. The review frames WBV as a plausible low-intensity option to support cognitive health, particularly for people who cannot easily engage in more vigorous cognitive-training exercise — not as a replacement for other cognitive interventions.
Global cognition benefited most of the four subdomains tested; attention and memory showed the smallest (though still positive) effects.
Full Citation
Seok JW, Kim JU, Kim JD. (2025). Effects of whole-body vibration on cognitive function: a systematic review and meta-analysis. GeroScience. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-025-01914-0
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.