Acute Effects Of Whole Body Vibration During Passive Standing On Arterial Stiffness

Abstract

Patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) are prone to coronary artery disease (CAD) resulting in high CAD related morbidity and mortality. Increased arterial stiffness is a well-established CAD risk factor among able-bodied individuals. Whole body vibration (WBV) with static squat exercise acutely decreases arterial stiffness among able-bodied individuals. People with SCI can passively stand with the assistance a standing frame. WBV may be beneficial as an alternate to exercise for decreasing arterial stiffness among people with SCI. PURPOSE: To investigate the acute effects of WBV during passive standing on arterial stiffness in able-bodied individuals. METHODS: Seven healthy men (Age: 27 ± 7 yrs; Height: 177.8 ± 8.9 cm; Body weight: 77.8 ± 8.7 kg) performed WBV during passive standing in the standing frame (Easystand 5000). The WBV session consisted of 10 sets of 60 s-vibration (frequency, 45Hz: amplitude, 1.2mm) with inter-set resting periods of 60 s each. Arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity in cm/sec) was measured from the common carotid to the femoral artery (c-f PWV) and from the femoral to posterior tibial artery (f-a PWV). Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were measured pre and 2min post WBV. RESULTS: BP and HR did not change from baseline after WBV. f-a PWV significantly decreased after the WBV (940 ± 88 cm/sec vs. 926 ± 88 cm/sec, p<0.05). The group mean of c-f PWV decreased (1067 ± 973 cm/sec vs. 973 ± 273 cm/sec, p = 0.174), although it was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: WBV during passive standing acutely decreased arterial stiffness, especially in the leg in able-bodied individuals. These results suggest that WBV with passive standing may be feasible as an alternate for exercise in people with SCI for decreasing arterial stiffness.