Does whole-body vibration affect body fat and weight in menopause? What 11 studies found

Postmenopausal women aged around 68 did 18 months of twice-weekly aerobic and strength training with or without vibration; lean mass improved and vibration slightly favored leg strength gains.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 151 women · 78 weeks · 2012PostmenopausalCited 65 timesPubMed

Over 14 weeks, postmenopausal women adding whole-body electromyostimulation to their usual endurance and strength training maintained resting metabolic rate and gained more strength than controls.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 30 women · 14 weeks · 2010PostmenopausalCited 71 timesPubMed

Obese postmenopausal women with high blood pressure did 8 weeks of whole-body vibration training with or without L-citrulline, and vibration training increased leg strength and lowered leg artery stiffness.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 41 women · 8 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 48 timesPubMed

Postmenopausal women did 24 weeks of whole-body vibration or multicomponent training; both reduced total fat mass and increased knee and ankle strength, with no change in bone density.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 38 women · 24 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 26 timesPubMed

Postmenopausal women did 12 weeks of whole body vibration or multi-component training, with both groups showing similar gains in knee and ankle strength and body composition changes.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 38 women · 12 weeks · 2015PostmenopausalCited 22 timesPubMed

In 31 breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitors, 12 weeks of whole-body vibration did not change bone turnover markers, body composition, or physical function versus usual care.

No difference foundRandomised trial · 31 women · 12 weeks · 2018PostmenopausalCited 19 timesPubMed

Obese postmenopausal women did 6 weeks of whole-body vibration training, which reduced body fat percentage and improved heart rate variability compared to a non-exercising control group.

Reported an improvementRandomised trial · 27 women · 6 weeks · 2017PostmenopausalCited 15 timesPubMed

Sedentary postmenopausal women did 8 weeks of whole body vibration, circuit resistance, or aerobic training, with vibration showing no body composition benefit and a strength decrease versus other methods.

No difference foundRandomised trial · 8 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 28 timesPubMed

Sedentary postmenopausal women did 8 months of resistance training with or without whole-body vibration, and only the combined group showed a significant decrease in percent body fat while both groups gained lean tissue.

Reported an improvementControlled trial · 55 women · 32 weeks · 2009PostmenopausalCited 44 timesPubMed

Obese middle-aged women did a 12-week diet and aerobic program with or without acceleration training; adding acceleration training improved grip strength, balance and flexibility beyond diet and aerobic exercise alone.

Reported an improvementControlled trial · 28 women · 12 weeks · 2014Midlife womenCited 10 timesPubMed

Obese postmenopausal women did 8 months of whole body vibration or resistance training, with both groups showing higher bone density at the hip and spine and improved BMI and waist to hip ratio.

Reported an improvementOther · 80 women · 35 weeks · 2014PostmenopausalCited 16 timesPubMed