title: Effect of whole body vibration on skin blood flow and nitric oxide production.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular dysfunction due to hyperglycemia in individuals with diabetes is a factor contributing to distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN). Reactive oxygen species reduce the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), a powerful vasodilator, resulting in reduced circulation and nerve ischemia. Increases in blood NO concentrations and circulation have been attributed to whole body vibration (WBV). The purpose of this study was to the determine the effects of low-frequency, low-amplitude WBV on whole blood NO concentrations and skin blood flow (SBF) in individuals with symptoms of DSPN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten patients with diabetes and impaired sensory perception in the lower limbs participated in this crossover study. Each submitted to 2 treatment conditions, WBV and sham, with a 1-week washout period between. Blood draws for NO analysis and laser Doppler imager scans of SBF were performed before, immediately after, and following a 5-minute recovery of each of the treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low-frequency, low-amplitude WBV significantly increased SBF compared to the sham condition (F(2,18) = 5.82, P = .0115). Whole blood NO concentrations did not differ between the WBV and sham conditions immediately or 5 minutes after treatment (F(2,18) = 1.88, P = .1813).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrate that patients with diabetes respond to WBV with increased SBF compared to the sham condition. The implication is that WBV is a potential nonpharmacological therapy for neurovascular complications of diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA paula.v.johnson@byu.edu.
authors.forename: Paula K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: J Brent
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Feland
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: A Wayne
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Gary W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Ulrike H
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: diabetes; neuropathy; nitric oxide; skin blood flow; whole body vibration