title: [Effect of an 8-week vibration training program in the elderly].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity has been shown to maintain or improve autonomy in the elderly. It has also been demonstrated that vibration exercise in adults achieves rapid benefits. This study analyses the effects of an 8-week program of reduced volume vibration training on autonomy and strength in a group of elderly subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  The 23 participants (18 women and 5 men, aged between 70 and 92 years, mean age 81.2 years) underwent a training program of five 30-second series of mechanical vibrations at 25 Hz and 2 mm wavelength three times a week for eight weeks. The isometric strength of the extensor muscles of the knee was assessed with a MuscleLab(®) gauge, and autonomy was tested with the "Expanded-Timed-Get-Up-and-Go" (ETGUG) test, both before and immediately after the eight weeks of the program and then eight weeks afterwards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were detected between the three time points in strength, and also in total time taken to complete the ETGUG and the various sections of the test, with the exception of the time taken to stand up and to turn. The vibration training program significantly improved the time taken to complete the ETGUG and strength after eight weeks of training. However, these benefits only endured for walking speed, not for strength.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the ETGUG test revealed significant changes overall. However, in two sections (standing up and turning) the differences were not significant, probably because the results do not depend exclusively on participants' physical capacity but are also related to their coordination skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eight weeks of reduced volume vibration training in the elderly improved autonomy, but not isometric strength.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biomecánica, Instituto Nacional de Educación Física de Cataluña (INEFC), Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. cesarjmunoz@coplefc.com
authors.forename: Cesar J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Muñoz Saez
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moras Feliu
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Jiménez
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*