Hormonal responses to a single session of wholebody vibration exercise in older individuals.
OBJECTIVE
Whole-body vibration (WBV) has been recently suggested as an alternative form of exercise. In this study, the acute effects of a single session of WBV exercise on anabolic hormones in aged individuals were analysed.


METHODS
A randomised cross-over trial design was used.


METHODS
Geriatrics Department, Woodend Hospital.


METHODS
20 individuals (9 men and 11 women; median age 70 years (range 66 to 85 years) volunteered in the experiment. Interventions Isometric squat on a platform with vibration or no vibration (control) conditions.


METHODS
Plasma cortisol, testosterone, growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) were measured before, immediately after, and 1 and 2 h after the interventions.


METHODS
A significant difference between treatments (p<0.001) and a time x treatment interaction (p<0.05) was found in IGF-1 levels. Cortisol levels were shown not to be significantly different between treatments (p = 0.43), but a difference over time (p<0.001) and a time6 treatment interaction (p<0.05) were identified. No significant differences were identified in GH and testosterone levels.


CONCLUSIONS
As shown by the results of the study, 5 min of WBV exercise characterised by static squat with a frequency of 30 Hz can be performed by older individuals without apparent signs of stress and/or fatigue. Furthermore, WBV produced an acute increase in the circulating levels IGF-1 and cortisol greater than that observed following the same exercise protocol conducted without vibration.
Cardinale
M
M
Olympic Medical Institute, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow HA1 3UJ, UK. marco.cardinale@boa.org.uk
Soiza
R L
RL
Leiper
J B
JB
Gibson
A
A
Primrose
W R
WR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D014732:Vibration
D013739:Testosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone