Effects of eight months of whole body vibration training on hip bone mass in older women.

Objective: the aim of this study was to examine the effect of 8 months of whole-body vibration training on bone mass in octogenarian women.

Method: Thirty-seven women (aged 82.4 [SD=5.7] years) voluntarily participated in this study. The vibration group (n=19) trained on a vibration platform twice a week (20 Hz and 2 mm) whereas controls (n=18) did not participate in any training program. Bone mass was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the hip region. General linear repeated measures ANOVA (group by time) was used to examine the effect of whole body vibration on bone mass changes.

Results: After the intervention, in all the hip regions (total hip, femoral neck, trochanter, intertrochanter, Ward's area), no statistically significant changes in bone mass were found.

Conclusion: eight months of whole body vibration training (twice a week) in elderly women do not produce osteogenic effects.