Effects of Whole-Body Vibration and High Impact Exercises in Postmenopausal Women

Effects of Whole-Body Vibration and High Impact Exercises on the Bone Metabolism and Fall Risk in Postmenopausal Women

We investigated the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) and high-impact (HI) exercises in postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density. In summary, WBV exercises are effective in preventing bone loss and WBV and HI exercise programs are effective in decreasing fall risk, increasing health-related quality of life and improving depressive symptoms

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of six months of supervised whole-body vibration (WBV) and high-impact (HI) exercises on bone mineral density (BMD), serum bone turnover markers, fall risk, health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women, additionally, to evaluate the advantage of each training program to another. Methods: In a prospective, randomized controlled 6-month interventional trial 58 eligible postmenopausal women were assigned to WBV training group (n=19), HI training group (n=19), or control group (n=20). The patients in both training groups participated in a supervised training program, which consisted of the one-hour exercise session three times a week for six months. The WBV groups received vibration (30-35 Hz, 2-4 mm) in five different static positions. The HI group jumped rope (10-50 jumps/day). All patients received calcium (1000 mg) and vitamin D (880 IU) supplementation per day. In all participants, baseline and six-month BMD at the lumbar spine and femur were measured by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Serum osteocalcin (OC) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx) were measured at baseline, three- and six-month intervals. Fall risk was assessed by using the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and fall index measured by static posturography at baseline, three- and six-month intervals. HRQoL and depressive symptoms were assessed using the Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), respectively, at baseline and six-month of the study.

The WBV training consisted of a high frequency (30-40 Hz) vibration stimulus at a low setting (2-4mm peak to peak) on a Power Plate pro5 vibration platform (Performance Health Systems, LLC, Northbrook, IL, USA). Each patient received the vibrations under supervision using five different static positions: squat, deep squat, widestep squat, lunge, and hands-front lunge. The exercise programs for each experimental groups consisted of 20 to 60-minute sessions on three days per week for 24 weeks, and they were performed under the supervision.

Depending on their individual calcium and vitamin D intakes, each patient advised to receive supplemental calcium and vitamin D to ensure a total daily intake of 1,500 mg of calcium and 880 IU of vitamin D.

Depending on their individual calcium and vitamin D intakes, each patient received supplemental calcium and vitamin D to ensure a total daily intake of 1,500 mg of calcium and 880 IU of vitamin D. The demographic characteristics of the participants were obtained at the baseline assessment.

The WBV training consisted of a high frequency (30-40 Hz) vibration stimulus at a low setting on a Power Plate pro5 vibration platform (Performance Health Systems, LLC, Northbrook, IL, USA).

In the high-impact exercise program, the patients were asked to jump using a jump-rope at the beginning of each session

The bone mineral density of the lumbar spine, femoral neck were measured with a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry

Inclusion Criteria: Postmenopausal women aged 40-65 years old Bone mineral density T-scores between -2.0 and -3.0 at the L1-L4, L2-L4, femoral neck, trochanter and/or total hip regions Serum 25(OH)vitamin D level ≥ 30 ng/ml. Exclusion Criteria: The use of any medications and/or disease that affect bone metabolism Neuromuscular performance, and/or balance; presence of cardiovascular, pulmonary, neuromuscular, and/or chronic diseases that affect exercise training Presence of an osteoporotic fracture Presence of a musculoskeletal disease, such as an acute lumbar herniated disc and/or spondylolisthesis Presence of gall or kidney stones, prostheses, intraocular lenses, and/or implants Body mass index ≥35 kg/m² Thrombosis history