Comparing Whole-Body Vibration vs. Balance Board Exercise for Pain, Function, and Quality of Life in Obese Adults With Knee Osteoarthritis

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Balance Training Using Stochastic Resonance Therapy-Whole Body Vibration and Balanced Board in Obese Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease commonly found in the knee. Therapeutic exercise has been known as the most common therapy to treat OA, however, therapy only focuses on reducing symptoms, not on treatment of the disease which help reduce cost and improve long term quality of life. Objective: This randomized controlled trial aim was to compare the effectiveness of Stochastic Resonance Therapy-Whole Body Vibration (SRT-WBV) vs. Balance Board (BB) training on knee pain, knee function and quality of life in obese patients with osteoarthritis. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Methods: Forty-four subjects diagnosed with Grade I-II Osteoarthritis Kellgren Lawrence and Grade I obesity were included, randomized to two treatment groups, the SRT-WBV (n=22) or BB (n=22) to complete a series of exercises over eight weeks. Evaluation using the following clinical outcomes: Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Single leg stance (SLS) test, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Short Form 12 Health Survey Questions (SF-12).

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Obesity; Knee Osteoarthritis; Balance Board; Stochastic Resonance Therapy-Whole Body Vibration
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Stochastic Resonance Therapy-Whole Body Vibration; Device: Balance Board

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 44
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Indonesia
  • DKI Jakarta
    • Jakarta Pusat, DKI Jakarta, Indonesia, 10430
      • Universitas Indonesia, Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 45-65 years old patient
• VAS score ranged from 4 - 6
• Diagnosed with knee OA KL Grade I - II based on American College of Rheumatology Classification
• Grade I obesity
• Understand Bahasa Indonesia

Exclusion Criteria:

• Used assistive devices or can't walk
• Diagnosed with other medical conditions or mentally unstable
• Diagnosed with advanced stage of osteoporosis
• Had history of knee surgery
• Were currently taking analgesic or anti-inflammatory medications
• Pregnant
• Unwilling to participate

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Stochastic Resonance Therapy-Whole Body Vibration; Subjects assigned to the SRT-WBV group were required to stand on the footboard of the SRT-WBV (SR Therapiesysteme GmbH & Co. Lifescience KG, Berlin) device with shoulder width stance, and knees bent at 30 degrees, facing forward. The trim settings progressed from weak (45 seconds with 8 repetitions), to mild (55 seconds with 8 repetitions), average (60 seconds with 6 repetitions), and strong (60 seconds with 6 repetitions), with intensity increased at two-week intervals. Each repetition was separated by a resting period that had the same duration as the trim settings (weak: 45 seconds, mild: 55 seconds, average and strong: 60 seconds).	Device: Stochastic Resonance Therapy-Whole Body Vibration; A total of 16 therapeutic exercise sessions were conducted during the intervention where 2 sessions were conducted every week, separated by at least one day. Specifically, subjects assigned to either group, with each session began with standardized warm-up exercises lasting approximately 5-10 minutes, followed by specific therapeutic exercises such as SRT-WBV and Balance Board.; Other Names: SRT-WBV
Active Comparator: Balance Board; Subjects were required to stand on the balance board with knees bent at 30 degrees and both hands placed on the chest with eyes opened. The balance board intervention used different durations as its intensity, such as 7.5 minutes, 10 minutes, 12.5 minutes, and 15 minutes continuously without resting period. The intensity of exercise was progressively increased every 2 weeks until completion of the program.	Device: Balance Board; The balance board intervention used different durations as its intensity, such as 7.5 minutes, 10 minutes, 12.5 minutes, and 15 minutes continuously without resting period. The intensity of exercise was progressively increased every 2 weeks until completion of the program.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Knee function (WOMAC Total Score)	Knee function was assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) questionnaire where pain score, stiffness, and physical function were evaluated on a scale of 0-4, with higher scores indicating worse pain, stiffness, and functional limitations. The questionnaire contains 24 items and the WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index scores were then derived from the sum of the scores for the three subscales It was administered at the beginning and completion of the intervention, as well as every 4 weeks during the intervention.	8 weeks
Timed Up and Go Test (Balance)	Balance and mobility will be assessed using the Timed Up and Go Test. The time (in seconds) taken to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn, return, and sit down will be recorded.	8 weeks
Straight Leg Raise Test	Balance/flexibility will be assessed using the Straight Leg Raise test. The maximum angle (in degrees) achieved during leg elevation will be recorded.	8 weeks
Knee Pain (VAS Score)	Knee pain will be measured using the Visual Analog Scale ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain. Participants will rate their pain at rest while seated.	8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Quality of Life (SF-12 Score)	Quality of life will be assessed using the SF-12. Scores will be calculated according to standard scoring procedures.	8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Indonesia University
• Collaborators: Terramed Physio & Rehab; National Sports Institute Malaysia
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Tirza Z Tamin, MD, Indonesia University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): October 15, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 21, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 28, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 6, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 28, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Osteoarthritis; Knee Pain; Therapeutic Exercise; Balance Board; Stochastic Resonance Therapy-Whole Body Vibration
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Musculoskeletal Diseases; Nutrition Disorders; Arthritis; Joint Diseases; Rheumatic Diseases; Overnutrition; Body Weight; Overweight; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Obesity; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis, Knee
• Other Study ID Numbers: SRTKneeOsteoarthritis

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No