Effects of whole body vibration exercise combined with weighted vest in older adults: a randomized controlled trial

Background: To evaluate the training effects of whole body vibration (WBV) combined with weighted vest (WV) in older adults. Methods: This randomized controlled trial study was conducted in healthy older adults living in the community. Fifty-one participants were randomly allocated into 3 groups: group 1 (n = 17), WBV alone, training on WBV at a frequency 30 Hz, amplitude 2 mm, 10 sets of 1 min squats, with 60s rest, group 2 (n = 15), WV alone, squat exercise, 10 sets of 1 min, with 60s rest, while WV loaded with 10% body weight and group 3 (n = 19), WBV+ WV, combining WBV exercise with the addition of a WV. All groups completed training 3 times per week for 8 weeks. The outcomes were total muscle mass, muscle thickness, maximal isometric strength, single-leg-stance and timed-up-and-go evaluated at baseline and after training. Results: As a result of training all groups improved their isometric muscle strength with little difference between groups. The single-leg-stance significantly improved only in WBV+WV group 25.1 +/- 10.8s (mean +/- 95% CI, p < 0.01). The timed-up-and-go improved in all groups, but the improvement was significantly greater in the WBV+WV group (17.5 +/- 6.9%) compared to the WV (8.5 +/- 3.2%) and WBV groups (9.2 +/- 5.4%, p = 0.043, 0.023 respectively). Rectus femoris muscle thickness and total muscle mass were significantly increased in all groups equally with little difference between groups. Conclusion: The combined WBV+WV had a greater effect on the single-leg-stance and the timed-up-and-go compared to WV or WBV alone.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the training effects of whole body vibration (WBV) combined with weighted vest (WV) in older adults. The results showed that the combination of WBV and WV had a greater impact on the single-leg-stance and timed-up-and-go compared to WV or WBV alone.