Whole-body vibration training reduces arterial stiffness, blood pressure and sympathovagal balance in young overweight/obese women
Hypertension Research, 02/24/2012

Figueroa A et al. – Whole–body vibration (WBV) training may benefit arterial function and muscle strength in deconditioned individuals who cannot perform conventional exercise.

• Obesity is associated with early cardiovascular dysfunction and reduced muscle strength.
• Whole–body vibration (WBV) training may improve arterial function and muscle strength.
• The effects of WBV training on arterial stiffness (brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity, baPWV), wave reflection (augmentation index, AIx), brachial systolic blood pressure (bSBP), aortic systolic blood pressure (aSBP), heart rate variability, and muscle strength (one–repetition maximum, 1RM) were examined in 10 young (21±2 year) overweight/obese women (body mass index, BMI=29.9±0.8kgm–2).
• Participants were randomized to a 6–week WBV training or non–exercising control (CON) period in a crossover design.
• WBV training (3 days × week) consisted of static and dynamic squats and calf raises with vibration intensity at 25–30Hz and 1–2mm amplitude (2.83–4.86G).

• There were significant (P<0.05) decreases in baPWV (–0.9±0.3 ms–1), AIx (–8.0±2.2 %), bSBP (–5.3±1.5mmHg), aSBP (–5.2±2.1mmHg), low–frequency power (–0.13±0.05nu) and sympathovagal balance (LF/HF, –0.42±0.16) after WBV training compared with CON.
• Significant (P<0.05) increases in high–frequency power (HF, 0.19±0.04nu) and leg extension 1RM (8.2±2.3kg) occurred after WBV training compared with CON.
• Six weeks of WBV training decreased systemic arterial stiffness and aSBP via improvements in wave reflection and sympathovagal balance in young overweight/obese normotensive women.