THE INFLUENCE OF LOW GRAVITATIONAL FORCE WBV AND TRAINING FREQUENCY ON FUNCTIONAL PERFORMANCE OF OLDER ADULTS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of low gravitational force wholebody vibration (WBV) and training frequency (sessions per week) on functional performance (FP) of older adults. Seventy-three participants (age 72 ± 8 years) were randomly assigned to four groups (control, 1, 2 and 3 WBV sessions per week). Quantifiers of FP; 5-Chair Stands test, Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test and Tinetti test, were significantly improved for the two and three WBV sessions per week groups . All components of health related quality of life (HRQOL) were also significantly improved. Training frequency was a determining factor to improve FP in the sample. As such, practitioners may confidently prescribe low gravitational force WBV training, at least twice per week, to improve FP and HRQOL.