Whole-body vibration effects on bone mineral density in women with or without resistance training

INTRODUCTION: Whole-body vibration exposure may translate into improved bone mass in young adult women. The primary focus of this study was to examine the effects of graded whole-body vibration or vibration exposure plus resistance training on bone mineral density (BMD), haematological measures for bone remodelling and exercise metabolism in young women. METHODS: Fifty-one healthy active women (mean [SD] age, 21.02 [3.39] yrs; height, 165.66 [6.73] cm; body mass 66.54 [13.39] kg) participated in the intervention. Subjects were randomly assigned to whole-body vibration (WBV), whole-body vibration plus resistance training (WBV+RT) or control (CONT) groups for 16 weeks. RESULTS: A repeated measure ANOVA found no significant (p < 0.05) group differences in BMD at the completion of 16 weeks. A significant within group change was apparent for the WBV (2.7% femoral neck) and WBV+RT (femoral neck 1.9%; vertebra 0.98%). WBV and WBV + RT experienced a significant (p < 0.05) 60% and 58% increase in adiponectin, 48% and 30% in transforming growth factor-β1, and, 17% and 34% in nitric oxide with an accompanying 50% and 36% decrease in osteopontin, 19% and 34% in interleukin-1β and 38% and 39% in tumor necrosis factor-α. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate graded whole-body vibration exposure may be effective in improving BMD by increasing bone deposition while also decreasing bone resorption. Whole-body vibration may also provide an efficient stratagem for young women to achieve peak bone mass and help stave off osteoporosis later in life and provide a novel form of physical training.