Article Text
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Whole body vibration has been recently suggested as an alternative form of exercise. The aim of the study was to analyse the acute effects of a single session of whole body vibration exercise on anabolic hormones in aged individuals.
DESIGN: A Randomised cross-over trial design was used.
SETTINGS: Geriatrics department, Hospital.
PARTICIPANTS: Twenty subjects (9 males and 11 females; median age 70 years (range 66 to 85 years) volunteered in the experiment.
INTERVENTIONS: isometric squat on a platform with vibration (V) or no vibration (C) conditions.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Plasma Cortisol, Testosterone, Growth Hormone, and IGF-1 were measured before, after, 1h and 2h after the interventions.
REPORTS: A significant difference between treatments (P<.001) and a time by treatment interaction (P<.05) was found in IGF-1 levels. Cortisol levels were shown not to be significantly different between treatments (P=0.43) but a difference over time (P<.001) and a time x treatment interaction (P<.05) were identified. No significant differences were identified in GH and Testosterone levels.
CONCLUSIONS: the results of our study suggest that 5 minutes of WBV exercise characterised by static squat with a frequency of 30Hz can be performed by elderly individuals without apparent signs of stress and/or fatigue. Furthermore, the results of the study showed that WBV produced an acute increase in the circulating levels IGF-1 and cortisol greater than that observed following the same exercise protocol conducted without vibration.