Whole Body Vibration Added to Endurance Training in Obese Women – A Pilot Study

Abstract

Whole body vibration (WBV) training is an increasingly popular training method that is strongly promoted for weight loss, but scientific data on its effectiveness, particularly in obese subjects, are sparse. 14 obese women (BMI: 37.4±1.3 kg/m²) randomized to 2 different groups (each n=7) participated in a 6-week endurance training program that was either combined or not combined with additional WBV training. Anthropometric measures, phase angle and body composition (assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis; BIA), and resting energy expenditure (REE) were obtained before and after the training program. Body weight did not change during the training period (P=0.87), but waist circumference decreased in both groups (P=0.007; WBV: −3.4±1.4 cm; no-WBV: −1.7±0.7 cm) independent of WBV training (P=0.29 for group×time interaction). BIA revealed an enhancing effect of WBV training in comparison to no-WBV training on the phase angle (+0.20±0.12° vs. −0.19±0.12°; P=0.04) and calculated body cell mass (+0.8±0.2 vs. −0.3±0.4 kg; P=0.02), while calculated percentage fat mass decreased in both conditions (P=0.05) to similar extent (P=0.59; WBV: −0.8±0.2%; no-WBV: −0.4±0.5%). REE increased across the training (P=0.01; WBV: +77±33 kcal/24 h; no-WBV: +68±34 kcal/24 h), with this increase again not depending on WBV condition (P=0.85). Results of our pilot study in obese women provide preliminary evidence for a beneficial effect of WBV, when added to endurance training, on the bioelectrical phase angle, an increasingly recognized marker of individual’s health status.

Key words

whole body vibration training - obesity - phase angle - bioelectrical impedance analysis

• References

• 1 Alvarez VP, Dixon JB, Strauss BJ, Laurie CP, Chaston TB, O’Brien PE. Single frequency bioelectrical impedance is a poor method for determining fat mass in moderately obese women. Obes Surg 2007; 17: 211-221
• 2 Barbosa-Silva MC, Barros AJ. Bioelectrical impedance analysis in clinical practice: a new perspective on its use beyond body composition equations. Curr Opin Clin Metab Care 2005; 8: 311-317
• 3 Bogaerts A, Delecluse C, Claessens AL, Coudyzer W, Boonen S, Verschueren SM. Impact of whole-body vibration training versus fitness training on muscle strength and muscle mass in older men: A 1-year randomized controlled trial. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2007; 62: 630-635
• 4 Bosy-Westphal A, Danielzik S, Dörhöfer RP, Later W, Wiese S, Müller MJ. Phase angle from bioelectrical impedance analysis: population reference values by age, sex, and body mass index. J Parenter Enteral Nutr 2006; 30: 309-316
• 5 Cardinale M, Bosco C. The use of vibration as an exercises intervention. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 2003; 31: 3-7
• 6 Cardinale M, Lim J. Electromyography activity of vastus lateralis muscle during whole-body vibrations of different frequencies. J Strength Cond Res 2003; 17: 621-624
• 7 Cochrane DJ. Vibration exercise: the potential benefits. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 75-99
• 8 Das SK, Roberts SB, Kehayias JJ, Wang J, Hsu LK, Shikora SA, Saltzman E, McCrory MA. Body Composition assessment in extreme obesity and after massive weight loss induced by gastric bypass surgery. Am J Physiol 2003; 284: E1080-E1088
• 9 Fjeldstad C, Palmer IJ, Bemben MG, Bemben DA. Whole-body vibration augments resistance training effects on body composition in postmenopausal women. Maturitas 2009; 63: 79-83
• 10 Flegal KM, Graubard BI, Williamson DF, Gail MH. Excess deaths associated with underweight, overweight, and obesity. JAMA 2005; 293: 1861-1867
• 11 Fontaine KR, Redden DT, Wang C, Westfall AO, Allison DB. Years of life lost due to obesity. JAMA 2003; 289: 187-193
• 12 Gilsanz V, Wren TA, Sanchez M, Dorey F, Judex S, Rubin C. Low-level, high-frequency mechanical signals enhance musculoskeletal development of young women with low BMD. J Bone Miner Res 2006; 21: 1464-1474
• 13 Gupta D, Lammersfeld CA, Burrows JL, Dahlk SL, Vashi PG, Grutsch JF, Hoffman S, Lis CG. Bioelectrical impedance phase angle in clinical practice: implications for prognosis in advanced colorectal cancer. Am J Clin Nutr 2004; 80: 1634-1638
• 14 Gupta D, Lis CG, Dahlk S, Vashi PG, Grutsch JF, Lammersfeld CA. Bioelectrical impedance phase angle as a prognostic indicator in advanced pancreatic cancer. Br J Nutr 2004; 92: 957-962
• 15 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Update – ethical standards in sport and exercise science research. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 819-821
• 16 Kodama S, Saito K, Tanaka S, Maki M, Yachi Y, Asumi M, Sugawara A, Totsuka K, Shimano H, Ohashi Y, Yamada N, Sone H. Cardiorespiratory fitness as a quantitative predictor of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in healthy men and women: a meta-analysis. JAMA 2009; 301: 2024-2035
• 17 Maddalozzo GF, Iwaniec UT, Turner RT, Rosen CJ, Widrick JJ. Whole-body vibration slows the acquisition of fat in mature female rats. Int J Obes 2008; 32: 1348-1354
• 18 Norman K, Stobäus N, Zocher D, Bosy-Westphal A, Szramek A, Scheufele R, Smoliner C, Pirlich M. Cutoff percentiles of bioelectrical phase angle predict functionality, quality of life, and mortality in patients with cancer. Am J Clin Nutr 2010; 92: 612-619
• 19 Ritz P, Vol S, Berrut G, Tack I, Arnaud MJ, Tichet J. Influence of gender and body composition on hydration and body water spaces. Clin Nutr 2008; 27: 740-746
• 20 Roelants M, Delecluse C, Goris M, Verschueren S. Effects of 24 weeks of whole body vibration training on body composition and muscle strength in untrained females. Int J Sports Med 2004; 25: 1-5
• 21 Rubin CT, Capilla E, Luu YK, Busa B, Crawford H, Nolan DJ, Mittal V, Rosen CJ, Pessin JE, Judex S. Adipogenesis is inhibited by brief, daily exposure to high-frequency, extremely low-magnitude mechanical signals. PNAS 2007; 104: 17879-17884
• 22 Rubin C, Recker R, Cullen D, Ryaby J, McCabe J, McLeod K. Prevention of postmenopausal bone loss by a low-magnitude, high frequency mechanical stimuli: a clinical trial assessing compliance, efficacy, and safety. J Bone Miner Res 2004; 19: 343-351
• 23 Selberg O, Selberg D. Norms and correlates of bioimpedance phase angle in healthy subjects, hospitalized patients, and patients with liver cirrhosis. Eur J Appl Physiol 2002; 86: 509-516
• 24 Slatkovska L, Alibhai SM, Beyene J, Cheung AM. Effect of whole-body vibration on BMD: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Osteoporos Int 2010; 21: 1969-1980
• 25 Vissers D, Verrijken A, Mertens I, Van Gils C, Van de Sompel A, Truijen S, Van Gaal L. Effect of long-term whole body vibration training on visceral adipose tissue: a preliminary report. Obes Facts 2010; 3: 93-100
• 26 Von Stengel S, Kemmler W, Engelke K, Kalender WA. Effect of whole-body vibration on neuromuscular performance and body composition for females 65 years and older: a randomized-controlled trial. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2012; 22: 119-127