Effects on strength of vibratory exercise compared to walking in postmenopausal women

Abstract

A major problem associated with advanced adult age is the remarkable decline in functional capacity and the associated loss of independence (1). Muscle strength of the lower extremities is a major neuromuscular determinant of these losses and mobility (2). Vibration exercise is a new method of training with ameliorations on bone (3), balance (4), strength of lower extremities (5, 6) and neuromuscular performance (7), and it easily to apply on previously physically untrained and frail persons. We hypothesized that a low-frequency vibrating board for 8 months would be feasible and improve more the functional capacity and the muscle strength of lower limbs than a walking-based program in post-menopausal women.The present study shows that our WBV training program may have a muscular positive effect, improving explosive strength. Moreover, to our knowledge, the current study is the first had obtained these results using low-frequency vibration in postmenopausal women. WBV seems to require longer sessions to pursue relevant effects on isokinetic strength. Walking programs should be prescribed to achieve significant improvements in health status related with usual daily physical tasks.