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Updated: Jun 28, 2026
Whole Body Vibration Methods with Survivors of Polio
Published on: October 17, 2018
20-Hz whole body vibration training fails to counteract the decrease in leg muscle volume caused by 14 days of 6
Jochen Zange1, Joachim Mester, Martina Heer
1Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, German Aerospace Center (DLR e.V.), Linder Höhe, 51170 Cologne, Germany. Jochen.Zange@dlr.de
Abstract:
A 6 degrees head down tilt bed rest (HDT) was used to simulate the effects of muscle unloading in space. We tested whether vibration training (VT) reduces the decrease in leg muscle volume induced by 14 days HDT. In two study phases eight healthy male subjects received both (1) HDT and VT or (2) HDT and a control intervention. Twice daily five intervals of 1 min VT were performed (20 Hz, 2-4 mm) in upright standing position followed by 1 min breaks in seated position. The control intervention included identical procedures except the vibration plate was off. Before and the day after HDT volumes of upper and lower leg muscles were measured using magnetic resonance imaging. HDT combined with control intervention caused a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the volumes of muscles by -4 to -6.5%. VT failed to counteract the decrease in leg muscle volume induced by HDT.
