Whole body vibration alleviates depressive symptoms through its anti-inflammatory effects

Conventional treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD) often show limited efficacy and may be accompanied by side effects, prompting the need for alternative strategies. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a passive physical intervention with emerging evidence of antidepressant potential, though its mechanisms remain incompletely understood. We hypothesize that the mechanism by which WBV improves depressive symptoms is partly through its anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation contributes to depressive symptoms through multiple mechanisms, including disruption of dopaminergic signaling in the VTA–NAc circuit, impairment of monoamine transmission, and induction of neurotoxicity via the kynurenine pathway, which leads to quinolinic acid accumulation, oxidative stress, and synaptic dysfunction. By suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhancing anti-inflammatory mediators, WBV may help reverse these inflammation-induced neurobiological alterations and ultimately alleviate depressive symptoms. This hypothesis could be tested using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rat models, with animals randomly assigned to control, stress, and stress + WBV intervention groups. Behavioral performance, cytokine levels, central serotonin, and synaptic markers such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) would be assessed at multiple timepoints to evaluate treatment effects. Such findings would support the therapeutic potential of WBV as a safe, low-barrier, non-pharmacological strategy for both depression—particularly forms associated with inflammation—and broader inflammatory conditions, especially in individuals unable to tolerate medication or engage in conventional exercise.