title: Whole-body vibration exercise training reduces arterial stiffness in postmenopausal women with prehypertension and hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise training on arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity [PWV]), blood pressure (BP), and leg muscle function in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five postmenopausal women with prehypertension and hypertension (mean [SE]; age, 56 [1] y; systolic BP, 139 [2] mm Hg; body mass index, 34.7 [0.8] kg/m2) were randomized to 12 weeks of WBV exercise training (n = 13) or to the no-exercise control group. Systolic BP, diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, carotid-femoral PWV, brachial-ankle PWV, femoral-ankle PWV (legPWV), leg lean mass, and leg muscle strength were measured before and after 12 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a group-by-time interaction (P < 0.05) for arterial stiffness, BP, and strength as brachial-ankle PWV (-1.3 [0.3] m/s, P < 0.01), legPWV (-0.81 [0.22] m/s, P < 0.01), systolic BP (-12 [3] mm Hg, P < 0.01), diastolic BP (-6 [2] mm Hg, P < 0.01), and mean arterial pressure (-9 [3] mm Hg, P < 0.01) decreased and as strength increased (21.0% [2.2%], P < 0.001) after WBV exercise training compared with no change after control. Heart rate decreased (-3 [1] beats/min, P < 0.05) after WBV exercise training, but there was no interaction (P > 0.05). Leg lean mass and carotid-femoral PWV were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by WBV exercise training or control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that WBV exercise training improves systemic and leg arterial stiffness, BP, and leg muscle strength in postmenopausal women with prehypertension or hypertension. WBV exercise training may decrease cardiovascular and disability risks in postmenopausal women by reducing legPWV and increasing leg muscle strength.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Nutrition, Food, and Exercise Sciences, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL.
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalfon
authors.forename: Takudzwa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Madzima
authors.forename: Alexei
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D017698:Postmenopause; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D014732:Vibration