Whole-body vibration failed to improve postmenopausal muscle density or volume

BALTIMORE — One year of daily low-magnitude whole-body vibration therapy had no significant effect on muscle density or volume at the distal tibia in postmenopausal women, as measured by HR-pQCT, according to data presented at ASBMR 2013.

Previous studies have shown that whole-body vibration therapy reduced sarcopenia and its consequences, according to Miranda Boggild, MD, of the department of medicine at the University of Toronto.

“Our results show that compared to no whole-body vibration therapy, low magnitude 30-Hz or 90-Hz therapy had no significant effect on muscle density or volume after 1 year,” Boggild said.

The Vibration Study compared the effects of 0.3 g 30-Hz whole-body vibration therapy, 0.3 g 90-Hz whole-body vibration therapy and no therapy among 202 healthy postmenopausal women with low bone density (T-score: –1 to –2.5). All patients were given vitamin D and calcium.

Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1: fashion to no therapy or to stand on a 30-Hz or 90-Hz whole-body vibration therapy platform for 20 minutes daily for 1 year.

The mean change in muscle density at the distal tibia after 1 year was 0.39 mgHA/cm³ in the 30-Hz group, 0.18 mgHA/cm³ in the 90-Hz group, and 0.38 mgHA/cm³ in the control group (P=.8). Moreover, muscle volume at the distal tibia was 77.6 mm³ in the 30-Hz group, 209.2 mm³ in the 90-Hz group and 79.4 mm3 in the control group (P=.5).

These findings suggest low magnitude whole-body vibration therapy yielded no significant improvements in muscle density or volume at the distal tibia among postmenopausal women, Boggild said. – by Samantha Costa

For more information:

Boggild M. Oral Poster Presentations: Clinical #FR0196. Presented at: the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research 2013 Annual Meeting; Oct. 4-7, 2013; Baltimore.

Disclosure: Boggild reports no relevant financial disclosures.