Histological aspects of whole-body vibration in the knee remobilization of Wistar rats

Introduction and aim. The knee is one of the joints where immobilization is most used, however, it can cause morphological changes in the joint tissues and is a challenge to be overcome during rehabilitation. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is capable of generating repetitive oscillatory movements, which cause mechanical stimuli that interfere with tissue plasticity. The aim of this study was to analyze the knee morphology of Wistar rats submitted to remobilization with WBV. Material and methods. 32 male rats were used, divided into four groups (n=8): Control Group (G1), Immobilization Group (G2), Immobilized Group and Free Remobilization (G3), Remobilized Group with WBV (G4). For immobilization, a plastered apparatus was used for 15 days. G3 and G4 carried out free remobilization or with WBV, respectively, for 2 weeks. The knee joints were processed for light microscopy. Results. The WBV led to a reduction in the inflammatory infiltrate in the articular cavity and greater presence of adipocytes in the subintima of the synovial membrane. Conclusion. Remobilization with WBV induced a better tissue response in the synovial membrane when compared to free remobilization.