title: Effect of whole-body vibration for 3 months on arterial stiffness in the middle-aged and elderly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common problem of middle-aged and older adults. Increased arterial stiffness is a CVD risk factor. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a simple and convenient exercise for middle-aged and older adults; however, there have been few studies investigating the effect of WBV on arterial stiffness. This study mainly investigated the effect of WBV on arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 38 (21 women and 17 men) middle-aged and elderly subjects (average age, 61.9 years) were randomly divided into the WBV group and the control group for a 3-month trial. The WBV group received an intervention of 30 Hz and 3.2 g WBV in a natural full standing posture at a sports center. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), a marker of systemic arterial stiffness, and blood pressure and heart rate were measured before and after the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 3 months, there were no significant changes in blood pressure or heart rate in both groups. However, the bilateral baPWV was significantly reduced in the WBV group (decreased by 0.65 m/second [P=0.014]; 0.63 m/second [P=0.041] in either side), but not in the control group. The comparison between the two groups was not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that 3 months of WBV had a positive effect on arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older adults and could therefore be regarded as a supplementary exercise. Larger-scale studies are needed to confirm the effects of WBV in the future.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan ; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chung-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Hungkuang University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Han-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan ; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shiuan-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wan-Chun
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Bing-Tang
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan ; Department of Family Medicine, Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Meng-Chih
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, China Medical University Beigang Hospital, Yunlin, Taiwan ; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Shui
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*
keywords: arterial stiffness; elderly; middle-aged; whole-body vibration