| Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common central motor disorder in children, often accompanied by spasticity, reduced bone density, and muscle weakness, which significantly compromise the children’s quality of life. Whole-body vibration (WBV), as a non-invasive, easy-to-administer, and well-tolerated rehabilitation approach, has been widely adopted in clinical practice. Although numerous clinical studies have confirmed the effectiveness of WBV therapy, its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This review aims to systematically summarize the clinical effects of WBV on spasticity, bone density, muscle strength, balance, and walking ability in children with CP, and to explore its potential therapeutic mechanisms, providing a more scientific theoretical basis for the application of WBV in CP rehabilitation. Relevant studies were retrieved from databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI, covering literature published from the inception of each database up to 2025. The search focused on articles examining the rehabilitative effects or mechanisms of WBV in children with CP, in both Chinese and English. WBV can effectively reduce spasticity, improve bone density and muscle strength, and enhance balance control and walking ability in children with CP. The mechanisms involve neuroregulation such as the vibration paradox and presynaptic inhibition, modulation of the bone formation-resorption balance, vibration-induced muscle reflexes and muscular adaptations, as well as improved proprioceptive input and walking efficiency. WBV is a safe and effective adjunctive therapy in the rehabilitation of children with CP. Further research is needed to clarify its mechanistic pathways and to determine the optimal combination of WBV parameters. |
