Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41710925›Full record

ArticleBMJ neurology open2026

Impact of whole-body vibration training on gait in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis: a pilot randomised study.

Agni Maria Konitsioti, Yasemin Göreci, Martin Hellmich, Finja Schweitzer, Stefan Blaschke, Heidrun Golla, Larissa Waßner, Jennifer Stolzenberger, Gereon R Fink, Michael Schroeter and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ neurology open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Agni Maria KonitsiotiDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7296-4349
Yasemin GöreciDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Martin HellmichInstitute of Medical Statistics and Computational Biology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Finja SchweitzerDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0707-0485
Stefan BlaschkeDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Heidrun GollaDepartment of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Larissa WaßnerDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1627-2452
Jennifer StolzenbergerCenter of Prevention and Rehabilitation, UniReha, Germany, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Cologne, Germany.
Gereon R FinkDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Michael SchroeterDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
Eckhard SchoenauCenter of Prevention and Rehabilitation, UniReha, Germany, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Cologne, Germany.
Christina StarkCenter of Prevention and Rehabilitation, UniReha, Germany, University of Cologne, Medical Faculty and University Hospital, Cologne, Germany.
Clemens WarnkeDepartment of Neurology, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Oscillatory whole-body vibration (WBV) training improves strength and movement skills in healthy adults and individuals with various medical conditions. Studies examining the effects of WBV on gait disorder in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) of progressive disease form (progressive MS (PMS)), however, produced inconsistent results. Objectives: To assess the feasibility and explore effects of WBV training on spastic gait in PwMS. Design and methods: Single-centre randomised, single-blind, pilot study involving 30 PwMS with mild-to-moderate spastic gait disorder (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 3.0-6.5). Patients were randomised 1:1 into arm 1 (12-week standard-of-care before WBV) and arm 2 (immediate WBV). WBV was delivered using a side-alternating Galileo Med 25 TT platform as a home-training programme, complemented by a standardised exercise protocol. The primary endpoint was the 6-minute walking distance (6MWD). Results: The distribution between arms concerning age, sex, body mass index, EDSS and baseline 6MWD was balanced. Adherence to the protocol was similar across both arms, with 70% of all patients completing all three study visits, with four dropouts per arm. Efficacy analyses included participants completing ≥50% of WBV sessions, comprising 17 participants (57%). 67% of all participants experienced AEs, which were equally distributed across both groups and not severe. Participant satisfaction with the intervention was high, with 70% indicating willingness to repeat the training. After 12 weeks of WBV training, a non-significant numerical increase in median 6MWD was observed. Patient-reported spasticity, assessed using the MSSS88 (Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity Scale), showed a non-significant numerical decrease following WBV. Conclusions: In this exploratory pilot study, we could demonstrate feasibility of a WBV intervention study in PwMS. As only 57% of the participants were able to complete the per-protocol training specifications, larger studies that intend to explore the efficacy of the WBV intervention in PMS should consider a less ambitious and a more individualised training protocol. Trial registration number: DRKS00022962.

Indexed as

GAITMULTIPLE SCLEROSISMYELOPATHYNEUROIMMUNOLOGYSPASTICITY

Identifiers

PMID41710925
PMCPMC12911677

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.