Benefits of Power Plate After Hip and Knee Replacement
I was talking to our Chief Research Officer last week, Zak Lerner and asked the question about joint replacements. Here is his answer.
I regularly get questions about the benefits, and safety, of Whole Body Vibration training (WBV) for those with joint replacements.
No case is the same; so, I always encourage anyone considering WBV to consult with their medical professional to determine if it is appropriate given their condition and medical history. Nevertheless, a number of independent, peer-reviewed studies have provided credible outcome and safety data specific to those who have undergone joint replacement.
Let's consider three such studies: two on subjects who had undergone total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and one on subjects who had received a hip replacement. An analysis of the clinical outcomes reported in these studies demonstrates robust benefits of WBV in the following four areas:
- Improvements in muscle strength: Both He et al. (2022) and Hsiao et al. (2019) reported that WBV therapy resulted in improved muscle strength in patients that had undergone WBV intervention following TKA.
- Improvements in bone health: He et al. (2022) showed improved bone mineral density (BMD) following WBV in subjects who had undergone TKA. Additionally, Hsiao et al. (2019) demonstrated increased biochemical markers specific to the formation of bone, suggesting WBV had a positive impact on bone density. Maddalozzo et al. (2009) reported statistically significant improvements in BMD for those who underwent WBV following hip replacement surgery, compared to the study's control group, which experienced decreases in BMD.
- Improvements in pain: He et al. (2022) reported improvement in reported pain severity amongst those who received WBV following TKA. Hsiao et al. (2019) also documented pain intensity improvements in patients who had undergone WBV intervention subsequent to TKA surgery.
- Improvements in functional outcomes: Both He at al. (2022). and Hsiao et al. (2019) demonstrated statistically significant improvement in functional outcome measures following TKA that included improved joint activation, function, and enhanced range of motion.
Regarding safety, none of the studies reported any adverse effects of whole body vibration therapy on those with joint replacements.
Individually, these studies provide strong clinical evidence of the benefits of training on a vibration platform for those with a joint replacement. Taken together, the results provide a compelling argument for the efficacy in a number of critically important areas of musculoskeletal health. Additionally, the lack of adverse complications reported in these studies clearly demonstrate that knee and hip replacement are not contraindications for the use of WBV therapy.
If you are looking for a best-in-class vibration plate to help your recovery after hip or knee replacement surgery, look no further than Power Plate. Our whole body vibration plates are backed by research and studies to support a variety of goals including medical and rehab.
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He Z, Zheng J, Liu S, Guan Z, Zhou Q, Jin X, Guan Z. The Effect of Whole-Body Vibration in Osteopenic Patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Aging Clin Exp Res. 2022 Jun;34(6):1381-1390. doi: 10.1007/s40520-021-02043-2. Epub 2022 Jan 14. PMID: 35028919.
Hsiao YH, Chien SH, Tu HP, Fu JC, Tsai ST, Chen YS, Chen YJ, Chen CH. Early Post-Operative Intervention of Whole-Body Vibration in Patients After Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study. J Clin Med. 2019 Nov 7;8(11):1902. doi: 10.3390/jcm8111902. PMID: 31703305; PMCID: PMC6912668.
Maddalozzo, Gianni F. FACSM; Dodge, Nathan FACSM; Galver, Johnny W. FACSM; Li, Fuzhong FACSM; Cardinal, Bradley J. FACSM. Effects Of Whole-body Vibration On Bone Mineral Density In Post Hip Surgery Patients: 987. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 41(5):p 140, May 2009. | DOI: 10.1249/01.mss.0000353721.37452.58
