title: Whole-Body Vibration Training and Its Application to Age-Related Performance Decrements: An Exploratory Analysis.
abstract: Middle age is associated with a pronounced decline in power and flexibility. Whilst whole-body vibration training (WBVT) improves performance in a range of populations, whether WBVT can improve muscle power and flexibility in a middle-aged population is not known. The present study aimed to determine the influence of 5 weeks progressive WBVT in middle-aged (45-55 years) and younger (20-30 years) recreationally active females. Participants in each age group were randomly allocated to an intervention (WBVT) or control group. The WBVT groups trained for 5 weeks on a vibration platform, while the control groups performed identical exercises, with no vibration. Prior to, and after, the 5-week study vertical countermovement jump (VCMJ) and range of motion (ROM) performance were measured. WBVT significantly (p = 0.001) improved VCMJ performance when compared to the control groups. This improvement was significantly (p = 0.001) greater in the middle-aged compared with the younger WBVT group. WBVT significantly (p = 0.001) improved ROM irrespective of age. Taken together, these results suggest that WBVT can off-set age related performance decrements, which has therapeutic implications for musculoskeletal aging. Therefore, WBVT could be undertaken to minimise age-related performance deterioration in middle-aged female populations.
authors.affiliation: 1Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Abertay University, Dundee, United Kingdom; and 2Department of Sport and Physical Activity, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hawkey
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Babraj
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Cobley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D014732:Vibration