In a randomized study published in "Aging Clinical and Experimental Research", low-frequency, low-amplitude whole-body vibration for osteopenic people having knee arthroplasty demonstrated favorable therapeutic results in six months after knee arthroplasty surgery. Investigators aimed to explore if whole-body vibration can lead to improvement in the clinical outcomes of knee osteoarthritis.

The study incorporated 67 osteopenic people (55–90 years, 85% females) for total knee arthroplasty surgery. Participants were segregated into whole-body vibration group (n = 35) and control group (n=32). Evaluation of knee function and bone mass was done at baseline, three months after surgery, and six months after surgery.

Compared to the control group, the whole-body vibration group exhibited a considerable improvement in pain scores, lower limb muscle strength, thigh circumference, and joint function activity in six months following surgery. Also, the whole-body vibration intervention resulted in improvements in bone density in the spine, microstructure of radius and tibia, and the bone turnover marker.

At three months after knee surgery, the whole-body vibration group exhibited no considerable effect on bone loss and knee function. However, the long-term therapeutic effect still needs to be further investigated, concluded the study authors.