EFFECTS OF EIGHT MONTHS OF WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION TRAINING ON THE MUSCLE MASS AND FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY OF ELDERLY WOMEN

摘要

Santin-Medeiros, F, Rey-Lopez, JP, Santos-Lozano A, Cristi-Montero, CS, and Garatachea Vallejo, N. Effects of eight months of whole-body vibration training on the muscle mass and functional capacity of elderly women. J Strength Cond Res 29(7): 1863-1869, 2015Few intervention studies have used whole-body vibration (WBV) training in the elderly, and there is inconclusive evidence about its health benefits. We examined the effect of 8 months of WBV training on muscle mass and functional capacity in elderly women. A total of 37 women (aged 82.4 +/- 5.7 years) voluntarily participated in this study. Subjects were randomly assigned to a vibration group (n = 19) or a control group (n = 18). The vibration group trained on a vertical vibration platform twice a week. The control group was requested not to change their habitual lifestyle. The quadriceps femoris muscle cross-sectional area was determined by magnetic resonance imaging. All participants were evaluated by a battery of tests (Senior Fitness Test) to determine their functional capacity, as well as handgrip strength and balance/gait. General linear repeated-measure analysis of variance (group by time) was performed to examine the effect of the intervention on the outcomes variables. After 8 months, nonstatistically significant differences in the quadriceps CSA (pre-training: 8,516.16 +/- 1,271.78 mm(2) and post-training: 8,671.63 +/- 1,389.03 mm(2)) (p > 0.05) were found in the WBV group (Cohen's d: -0.12), whereas the CON group significantly decreased muscle mass (pre-training: 9,756.18 +/- 1,420.07 mm(2) and post-training: 9,326.82 +/- 1,577.53 mm(2)), with moderate effect size evident (Cohen's d: 0.29). In both groups, no changes were observed in the functional capacity, handgrip strength and balance/gait. The WBV training could prevent the loss of quadriceps CSA in elderly women.