Effect of whole body vibration training on body composition, skeletal muscle strength, and cardiovascular system
Whole-body vibration training (WBVT; a type of vibrotherapy) is often used in addition to conventional physical training, to improve skeletal muscle strength in both sports and rehabilitation. Recent studies have also shown that WBVT can be a useful form of exercise for improving cardiovascular function in the elderly and weak. However, the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of WBVT on cardiovascular health are not well documented. Therefore, scientists from the US Universities of Utah and Boston and Pusan National University (Korea) conducted a review of the scientific literature analyzing the impact of WBVT and its underlying mechanisms on the condition of cardiovascular system, as well as on the improvement of muscle strength, and body composition in different populations.
Based on the analyzed publications, it has been shown that WBVT positively affects the improvement of:
- strength,
- body composition,
- cardiovascular condition.
Prepared on the basis of:
Effects of whole body vibration training on body composition, skeletal muscle strength, and cardiovascular health. Park SY, Son WM, Kwon OS. J Exerc Rehabil. 2015;11(6):289-295.
A number of mechanisms have been proposed through which WBVT may have a beneficial effect on the analyzed physiological aspects. Among them, there is a tonic vibration reflex – a reflex muscle contraction caused by a tonic excitation of muscle spindles. In addition, increased hormone secretion, muscle growth and a stimulation of proprioceptive pathways may also be responsible for the effects of vibrotherapy. WBVT may have great potential in the treatment of obesity and sarcopenia, contributing to the production of anabolic hormones along with increased energy expenditure. This can lead to an increase in lean body mass and a decrease in fat mass.
Improving muscle tone can be extremely important in the elderly, preventing arterial stiffness by preventing loss of muscle tissue. In addition, research has shown that vibrations widen the capillaries in the gastrocnemius and quadriceps, facilitating the exchange of nutrients, metabolic by-products and the delivery of oxygen to the cells. The vibration-induced increase in blood flow may be due to a direct reduction in blood viscosity, but also to the activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and an increased release of NO by the endothelium.
Comment
The authors of the presented article concluded that WBVT improves body composition, muscle strength, and cardiovascular functions. They emphasize that WBVT is a particularly useful method of exercise for the sick and the elderly because it does not require the use of conventional dynamic exercises, and instead uses oscillating shear stresses that induce not only muscle contraction but also the vasodilation in local microcirculation. In addition, WBVT can be used by immobilized patients, providing their musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems with a constant substitute of physical activity stimuli of moderate and controlled intensity.
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