Whole-body vibration can improve heart function in obese postmenopausal women

U.S. researchers found that whole-body vibration, an unconventional exercise therapy, training for eight weeks can improve heart rate variability and blood pressure, particularly in obese postmenopausal women. In their study, which was published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, they assessed the effect of an eight-week whole-body vibration exercise program on heart rate variability and blood pressure in obese postmenopausal women.

• Whole-body vibration training provides the same benefits as resistance training in postmenopausal women, but is safer and gentler on the joints.
• For the study, the researchers recruited 25 obese postmenopausal women and randomly divided them into two groups: a whole-body vibration training group or non-exercising control group.
• Participants in the whole-body vibration group completed a supervised training thrice a week, which comprised of four static and four dynamic leg exercises with vertical vibration progressed throughout the eight weeks.
• The researchers measured the participants’ blood pressure and heart rate variability.
• The results showed that the eight-week whole-body vibration exercise improved sympathovagal balance and blood pressure in previously sedentary obese postmenopausal women.

Overall, the findings suggested that whole-body vibration training is an effective exercise intervention for improving sympathovagal balance and blood pressure in obese postmenopausal women.

To read more studies on the benefits of whole-body vibration exercise, visit AlternativeMedicine.news.

Journal Reference:

Wong A, Alvarez-Alvarado S, Kinsey AW, Figueroa A. WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION EXERCISE THERAPY IMPROVES CARDIAC AUTONOMIC FUNCTION AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN OBESE PRE- AND STAGE 1 HYPERTENSIVE POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 1 December 2016; 22(12): 970-976. DOI: 10.1089/acm.2016.0124