Effect of vibrotherapy on body fatness and blood parameters in elderly adults

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of variable frequency, low amplitude cycloidal vibration therapy in elderly adults (aged 60-70) and to estimate the change in participants’ body composition, hematological, rheological, protein blood parameters and fibrinogen concentration. The patients will receive vibrotherapy treatments 30 vibration therapies during three months, in the morning, once a day, five times a week. They will be obligated to participate in three courses while one course comprises ten vibration treatments and ten days of resting. One vibration treatment will last 29 minutes and include 8 microprograms. The treatments will be performed in a prone position with the use of the RAM Vitberg+ Base Module (active medical device, class IIa) enhanced with the module RAM Vitberg+ Metabolism (active medical device, class I). The whole RAM Vitberg+ system combines the general action following the WBV rule (Whole Body Vibration – oscillations of a general character) with local action applying additional therapeutical module in which the vibration impulse of RAM Vitberg+Metabolism is directed towards the areas of: epigastrium, mid-abdomen, pubic region, inguinal region, lateral and hypochondriac regions of abdomen, superficial fascia and the layer between subcutaneous tissue and abdominal muscles. The indexes of the applied vibration change in time according to the characteristics of the program. Each intervention is the same medical program written by the manufacturer of the medical device, which includes various frequencies and amplitudes that change over time during the intervention. The therapeutical stimulus consists of cycloid vibrations, produced in three perpendicular directions (3D), inducing intermittent pulsations with variable values of frequency (f), amplitude (A), and acceleration (a), that ranges between 25-52 Hz, 0.1-0.5 mm, and 6.9-13.5 m/s2, respectively. All of the trainings will be carried out at the same time of day (in the morning) by the same, qualified physiotherapist (with minimum 5 years' experience), in a room with the same temperature and humidity. Each volunteer will be qualified by a physician before participation in the study. The session attendance checklists will be used to monitor adherence to the intervention. The therapy will take place at Physiotherapy Practice in Skawina, Poland and will be supervised by the members of the University of Physical Education in Krakow, Poland.