The aim of this narrative review was to determine effects of whole body vibration exercises (WBVE) on the pelvic floor muscle (PFM) of healthy and unhealthy individuals. Searches were performed in the databases PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and PEDRo. The level of evidence and methodological quality of the selected papers were determined. It was included six studies with a total of 189 participants (95.76% women) with ages ranging from 18 to 68 years. It was reported that WBVE: (I) improves the PFMs strength and quality of life (QOL) in individuals with urinary incontinence; (II) does not cause (PFM) fatigue in nulliparous continent women; (III) leads to higher (PFM) activation in subjects with weakened (PFM) and achieves higher pelvic floor (PF) activation than maximum voluntary contraction alone; (IV) in an individual with postprostatectomy stress urinary incontinence (SUI), over a period of 6 weeks after starting treatment, the patient regained continence (usage of 1 safety pad) and (V) has a significant effect on the electromyographic response and additionality and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) significantly increased with increased frequency of the mechanical vibration. Relevant findings are presented and demonstrated that the WBVE might be highly relevant to the management of clinical disorders of the (PFM). Nevertheless, this intervention must be more understood and known to be used in the management of individuals with impairment of the (PFM) and there is the necessity of more research in this area.

Translational andrology and urology. 2019 Aug [Epub]

Eliane de Oliveira Guedes-Aguiar, Danúbia da Cunha de Sá-Caputo, Eloá Moreira-Marconi, Silvana Maria de Macêdo Uchôa, Patrícia Zaidan de Barros, Ericka Kirsthine Valentin, Anke Bergmann, Redha Taiar, Mario Bernardo-Filho

Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil., Laboratory of Mechanical Vibration and Integrative Practices, Department of Biophysics and Biometry, Institute of Biology Roberto Alcantara Gomes and Polyclinic Piquet Carneiro, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil., Catholic University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil., Graduate Program in Exercise and Sports Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil., Nucleus of Miccional Dysfunction, Polyclinic Piquet Carneiro, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil., Graduate Program in Molecular Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil., GRESPI, University of Reims Champagne Ardenne, Reims, France.

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