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.

Effect of exercise on the plasma BDNF levels in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis is a common disease in the elderly population worldwide. The alleviation of the symptoms associated with this disease can be achieved with physical exercise that induces a cascade of molecular and cellular processes. Of the neurotrophins, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) appears to be the most affected by physical activity. Moreover, BDNF seems to have a negative modulatory role in inflammation, and its production by skeletal muscle cells or by cells of the immune system drives the immunoprotective role of physical activity in situations of chronic inflammation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate plasma BDNF concentrations in elderly individuals presenting with knee osteoarthritis. To accomplish this, sixteen volunteers (mean age 67 ± 4.41 years) presenting with clinically and radiographically diagnosed knee osteoarthritis were evaluated during acute exercise (1 session of 20 min on a treadmill) and after chronic exercise (12 weeks of aerobic training, consisting of a 50-min walk 3 times per week). Additionally, both a functional assessment (during a 6-min walk) and a pain perception assessment were performed at the start and at the end of physical exercises (training). The plasma BDNF concentrations were measured by ELISA. For the population studied, acute exercise increased the levels of BDNF only before the 12-week training period (p < 0.001). Moreover, the training augmented the plasma concentrations of BDNF (p < 0.0001) and improved clinical parameters (functional p < 0.001; pain perception p < 0.01).

Influence of aerobic training on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters in ederly hypertensive women.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of hypertension includes pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions. Among the nonpharmacological interventions emphasizes the practice of regular physical exercise. However, the effects of aerobic exercise training on cardiovascular and metabolic parameters in elderly hypertensive women are still controversial. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a walking program on metabolic and cardiovascular parameters at rest and during the recovery period following maximal exercise by hypertensive elderly women. METHODS: Twelve elderly women with hypertension started a 2-week walking program. Rest blood cholesterol and anthropometric data, as well as blood pressure and heart rate at rest and after progressive maximal exercise were measured before and after training. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the pre- and posttraining periods in VO(2)max, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and mean blood pressure. There were no changes in serum cholesterol levels after the training. During the recovery period following the progressive test, the fall in heart rate and mean blood pressure after 10 minutes of recovery was significantly higher after training. CONCLUSION: The proposed walking program did not alter serum cholesterol, but it did reduce resting blood pressure, improve aerobic performance and accelerate the fall in heart rate and mean blood pressure during the postprogressive maximal aerobic exercise recovery period in elderly hypertensive women.