Effect of whole-body vibration on fibrinolytic and coagulative factors

The aim of the presented research was to assess the impact of a 5-week whole body vibration (WBV) training with different vibration parameters on factors regulating blood coagulability. The level of plasma fibrinogen (responsible for the increase in coagulation) and plasminogen (favoring the dissolution of blood clots), as well as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and its deactivator – plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were analyzed.

• After high-amplitude vibration (4 mm), an increase in tPA from 1745 to 2314 pg/ml and a decrease in PAI-1 from 98 to 85 ng/ml were observed (fig. 1, right panel), while fibrinogen and plasminogen did not change significantly.
• After low-amplitude vibration (2 mm), an increase in tPA from 2208 to 3493 pg/ml was observed (fig. 1, middle panel), while PAI-1, fibrinogen and plasminogen did not change statistically significantly.
• In the control group, no significant changes in the examined indicators were observed (fig. 1, left panel).

Prepared on the basis of:

Effects of whole-body vibration training on fibrinolytic and coagulative factors in healthy young men. Ghazalian F, Hakemi L, Pourkazemi L, Akhoond M. J Res Med Sci. 2014;19(10):982-986.

Study population

25 healthy men (19-35 years old) who had not been exercising regularly for at least 3 months and met other criteria (e.g. men with cardiovascular or clotting problems were excluded) were enrolled in the study.

Test procedure

The subjects were divided into 3 groups:

• high-amplitude WBV – A = 4 mm (n = 10),
• low-amplitude WBV – A = 2 mm (n = 10),
• control group – no vibration (n = 5).

During the 5-week study period, all participants carried out their normal life activities, but those in the WBV groups additionally completed WBV training 3 times a week (see below). Before and after the 5-week period of the study, the concentrations of fibrinogen, plasminogen, tPA and PAI-1 were measured in the plasma samples of all subjects.

Use of vibration in the study

Vibration training was performed on a vibrating platform (Fit Vib, Germany). WBV was administered in 3 sessions per week for 5 weeks. Vibration amplitudes were constant for both WBV groups: either 4 or 2 mm. On the other hand, the vibration frequencies increased weekly, starting at 25 Hz in the first week – they were increased by 5 Hz per week.

Each vibration session consisted of 2 series of WBVs administered in 3 specific static postures/ body positions: squat, lunge and deep squat. The series ran from 30 to 60 seconds, with 30-second breaks between them.

Results

Under the influence of high-amplitude vibrations (4 mm), an increase in tPA (P = 0.028) from 1745 ± 708 to 2314 ± 997 pg/ml and a decrease in PAI-1 (P = 0.033) from 98 ± 34 to 85 ± 37 ng/ml were observed. However, fibrinogen and plasminogen did not change significantly.

Under the influence of low-amplitude vibrations (2 mm), an increase in tPA (P = 0.006) was observed from 2208 ± 1280 to 3493 ± 3549 pg/ml. PAI-1, fibrinogen and plasminogen showed a slight non-significant decrease (P = 0.907, P = 0.19 or P = 0.095, respectively).

The differences between the vibration effects with A = 4 mm and A = 2 mm were not statistically significant, either for tPA (P = 0.50), PAI-1 (P = 0.249), plasminogen (P = 0.742) or fibrinogen ( P = 0.299).

In the control group, no significant changes in the examined indicators were observed.

Comment

The presented results indicate that WBV training influences the regulation of blood clotting processes. Vibrations (both A = 4 and A = 2 mm) resulted in an increase in tPA responsible for the anticoagulant effect and a decrease in prothrombotic PAI-1 (only A = 4 mm) in healthy young men. It seems that the vibration amplitude in WBV training may be of great importance for obtaining the expected fibrinolytic effects.

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