Efficacy of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Clinical and Functional Outcomes, and Quality of Life in Women with Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of whole-body vibration training (WBVT) on blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and determine the clinical and functional outcomes in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Thirty-two women with FMS were randomized into an intervention group (IG), receiving 6 weeks of WBVT, or a control group (CG) with no intervention. The outcomes at the baseline and follow-up in both groups included blood BDNF levels, sit-to-stand test (STS), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and visual analogue scale (VAS). WBVT resulted in a group-by-time interaction effect. Thus, after the intervention time, the IG had increased blood BDNF levels (p=0.045), a higher number of repetitions on the STS test (p=0.011), and increased walking distance on the 6MWT (p=0.010), compared to CG. Moreover, there was a reduction in the scores of the FIQ (p=0.001), the PSQI (p=0.001), the BDI (p=0.017), and pain assessed using VAS (p=0.008) in IG. The results demonstrate that WBVT promotes an increase in blood BDNF levels, with concomitant improvement in lower limb muscle strength, aerobic capacity, clinical symptoms, and quality of life in women with FMS. This trial is registered with Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (REBEC; RBR-38nbbx) (https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-38nbbx).

Whole-Body Vibration Exercise in Different Postures on Handgrip Strength in Healthy Women: A Cross-Over Study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of Whole-Body Vibration Exercise (WBVE) applied in push-up modified and half-squat positions, on handgrip strength (HS) and on the electromyography registry (EMGrms) of the flexor digitorum superficialis muscle (FDSM) of the dominant hand. METHODS: Nineteen healthy women (age 23.40 ± 4.03 years, bodyweight: 58.89 ± 9.87 kg), performed in a randomized order five different tests: (S1) Control; (S2) Push-up modified; (S3) Push-up placebo; (S4); Half-squatting; (S5) Half-squatting placebo. The HS and the EMGrms were assessed at baseline and immediately after the tests. ANOVA two-way design mixed test, with Tukey post hoc, was used to evaluate the HS, EMGrms and the ratio between EMGrms and HS, i.e., neural ratio (NR). Thus, the lower NR represents the greater neuromuscular modifications. The statistical significance level was set up at p < 0.05. RESULTS: WBVE on S2 increased HS compared to the stimulus applied to the S4 (p = 0.0001). The increase in HS was associated with a reduction in the EMGrms of the FDSM (p < 0.001) and a lower NR (p < 0.0001), i.e., greater neuromuscular modifications, in the S2 compared to the S4 after the tests. CONCLUSION: The distance of the stimulus and the positioning on the vibratory platform influence the maximum muscular strength due to neuromuscular modifications of hands in healthy women.

Comparison between whole-body vibration, light-emitting diode, and cycling warm-up on high-intensity physical performance during sprint bicycle exercise.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation and whole-body vibration (WBV) delivered either in isolation or combination (LED + WBV), warm-up (WU), and a control (C) treatment on performance during a sprint bicycle exercise. Ten cyclists performed a 30-second sprint cycle test under these conditions. The LED light was applied at 4 points bilaterally. Whole-body vibration consisted of 5 minutes of squats associated with WBV. LED + WBV consisted of WBV followed by LED therapy. Warm-up consisted of 17 minutes of moderate-intensity bicycle exercise. Control consisted of 10 minutes at rest. Blood lactate (BL) and ammonia (BA) levels and skin temperature (ST) were determined. Peak power (842 ± 117 vs. 800 ± 106 vs. 809 ± 128 W [p = 0.02 and p = 0.01]), relative power (12.1 ± 1.0 vs. 11.5 ± 0.9 vs. 11.6 ± 1.0 W·kg [p = 0.02 and p = 0.02]), and relative work (277 ± 23 vs. 263 ± 24 vs. 260 ± 23 J·kg [p = 0.02 and p = 0.003]) were higher in the WU group compared with the control and LED groups. In the LED + WBV group, peak (833 ± 115 vs. 800 ± 106 W [p = 0.02]) and relative (11.9 ± 0.9 vs. 11.5 ± 0.9 W·kg [p = 0.02]) power were higher than those in the control group, and relative work (272 ± 22 vs. 260 ± 23 J·kg [p = 0.02]) were improved compared with the LED group. There were no differences for BL, BA, and ST. The findings of this study confirmed the effectiveness of a warm-up as a preparatory activity and demonstrated that LED + WBV and WBV were as effective as WU in improving cyclist performance during a sprint bicycle exercise.

Influence of the knee flexion on muscle activation and transmissibility during whole body vibration.

The influence of the knee flexion on muscle activation and transmissibility during whole body vibration is controversially discussed in the literature. In this study, 34 individuals had electromyography activity (EMG) of the vastus lateralis and the acceleration assessed while squatting with 60° and 90° of knee flexion either with or without whole-body vibration (WBV). The conditions were maintained for 10s with 1min of rest between each condition. The main findings were (1) the larger the angle of knee flexion (90° vs. 60°), the greater the EMG (p<0.001), with no difference on acceleration transmissibility; (2) for both angles of knee flexion, the addition of WBV produced no significant difference in EMG and higher acceleration compared to without WBV (p<0.001). These results suggest that the larger the knee flexion angle (60° vs. 90°), the greater the muscle activation without acceleration modification. However, the addition of WBV increases the transmissibility of acceleration in the lower limbs without modification in EMG of vastus lateralis.