Whole-Body Vibration Training Decreases Ankle Systolic Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness in Hypertensive Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

High ankle systolic blood pressure (SBP) has been positively correlated with arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity, PWV), which can lead to an increased risk for systolic hypertension and cardiovascular events. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of whole-body vibration training (WBVT) on ankle SBP, PWV, and aortic SBP in postmenopausal women. METHODS: Thirty-six postmenopausal women were randomized to either control (n=12) or WBVT groups. The WBVT group was further stratified by ankle SBP in WBVT-High (n=12) or WBVT-Normal (n=12). The WBVT groups trained 3 days/week for 12 weeks. Ankle SBP, brachial SBP, femoral-ankle PWV (leg PWV), and carotid-femoral PWV were measured pre and post interventions. RESULTS: At baseline, ankle SBP was higher (P< 0.05) in the WBVT-High group than in the WBV-Normal group. Only the WBVT-High group showed a significant reduction in ankle SBP (-13%, P< 0.05) compared to the other groups. Brachial SBP (-8% and -9%), aortic SBP (-8% and -9%), and leg PWV (-8% and -9%) decreased (P< 0.05) in the WBVT-High and WBVT-Normal groups compared to the control group. The decrease in leg PWV was inversely correlated (P < 0.05) with ankle SBP (r= 0.42) and aortic SPB (r= 0.42). CONCLUSIONS: Ankle SBP decreased after 12 weeks of WBVT in postmenopausal women with high ankle SBP. WBVT reduced aortic SBP and leg PWV regardless of ankle SBP. Therefore, the decrease in leg PWV explains the reduction in ankle and aortic SBP.