title: Vascular adaptations induced by 6 weeks WBV resistance exercise training.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The impact of whole-body vibration (WBV) upon the cardiovascular system is receiving increasing attention. Despite numerous studies addressing the acute cardiovascular effects of WBV training, very little is known regarding long-term adaptations in healthy humans.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 6-week training study, with a 70 days follow-up was designed to compare resistive exercise with or without super-imposed whole-body vibrations. Arterial diameter, intima media thickness and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) were assessed by ultrasonography in the superficial femoral artery (SFA), the brachial (BA) and the carotid arteries (CA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  SFA resting diameter was increased from 6·22 mm (SD = 0·69 mm) at baseline to 6·52 mm (SD = 0·74 mm) at the end of the training period (P = 0·03) with no difference between groups (P = 0·48). Arterial wall thickness was significantly reduced by 4·3% (SD = 11%) in the CA only (P = 0·04). FMD was not affected by any of the interventions and in any of the investigated arteries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, this has been the first study to show that the superposition of vibration upon conventional resistance exercise does not have a specific effect upon long-term vascular adaptation in asymptomatic humans. Our findings seem to be at variance with the findings observed in a bed-rest setting. One possible explanation could be that the independently saturable effects of flow-mediated versus acceleration-related endothelial shear stresses on arterial structure and function differ between ambulatory and bed-rest conditions.
authors: Department of Space Physiology, German Aerospace Center, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany. tobias.weber@dlr.de
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Weber
authors: Åsa
authors: Å
authors: Beijer
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Rosenberger
authors: Edwin
authors: E
authors: Mulder
authors: Pengfei
authors: P
authors: Yang
authors: Eckhard
authors: E
authors: Schönau
authors: Wilhelm
authors: W
authors: Bloch
authors: Jörn
authors: J
authors: Rittweger
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D055070:Resistance Training; D013997:Time Factors; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014664:Vasodilation; D014732:Vibration; D055815:Young Adult