Effect of whole-body vibration for 3 months on arterial stiffness in the middle-aged and elderly.

Author: Lai CL1, Chen HY2, Tseng SY1, Liao WC3, Liu BT3, Lee MC4, Chen HS5.
Affiliation:
1Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan ; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan. 2Department of Physical Therapy, Hungkuang University, Taichung, Taiwan. 3Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan. 4Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan ; Department of Family Medicine, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan. 5Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, China Medical University Beigang Hospital, Yunlin, Taiwan ; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Conference/Journal: Clin Interv Aging.
Date published: 2014 May 12
Other: Volume ID: 9 , Pages: 821-8 , Special Notes: doi: 10.2147/CIA.S60029. , Word Count: 246


Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common problem of middle-aged and older adults. Increased arterial stiffness is a CVD risk factor. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a simple and convenient exercise for middle-aged and older adults; however, there have been few studies investigating the effect of WBV on arterial stiffness. This study mainly investigated the effect of WBV on arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults.
METHODS:
A total of 38 (21 women and 17 men) middle-aged and elderly subjects (average age, 61.9 years) were randomly divided into the WBV group and the control group for a 3-month trial. The WBV group received an intervention of 30 Hz and 3.2 g WBV in a natural full standing posture at a sports center. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a marker of systemic arterial stiffness, and blood pressure and heart rate were measured before and after the intervention.
RESULTS:
After 3 months, there were no significant changes in blood pressure or heart rate in both groups. However, the bilateral baPWV was significantly reduced in the WBV group (decreased by 0.65 m/second [P=0.014]; 0.63 m/second [P=0.041] in either side), but not in the control group. The comparison between the two groups was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION:
This study found that 3 months of WBV had a positive effect on arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults and could therefore be regarded as a supplementary exercise. Larger-scale studies are needed to confirm the effects of WBV in the future.
KEYWORDS:
arterial stiffness; elderly; middle-aged; whole-body vibration

PMID: 24872684 [

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