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Acute passive vibration reduces arterial stiffness and aortic wave reflection in stroke survivors

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Impaired leg arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity, PWV) and vasodilatory function are found after stroke. Acute passive vibration (PV) decreases leg PWV (legPWV) and pressure wave reflection (aortic augmentation index, aAIx) in healthy men. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of acute PV on aAIx and PWV in the paretic and non-paretic sides in stroke survivors.

Methods

Eleven stroke survivors (4 females) were randomized to either no-PV (control) or PV (25 Hz and 2 mm amplitude) trials on two separated visits. Following 20 min of supine rest with legs on a vibration platform, blood pressure, PWV, and aAIx were gathered before 10 continuous minutes of control or PV. Measurements were repeated at post-5, post-15, and post-30 min after control or PV.

Results

LegPWV and brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV, systemic stiffness) in paretic and non-paretic sides along with aAIx were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased from baseline at post-5 min after PV compared with control. At post-15 min, paretic and non-paretic legPWV remained significantly lower than baseline, but only non-paretic legPWV was different from control. We noted correlations between changes in paretic legPWV and changes in paretic baPWV (r = 0.47, P = 0.028) and aAIx (r = 0.51, P = 0.017) at post-5 min.

Conclusions

Acute PV applied to the legs of stroke survivors reduces systemic arterial stiffness and aortic wave reflection due to a reduction in leg arterial stiffness, which last longer in the non-paretic than in the paretic leg.

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Abbreviations

PWV:

Pulse wave velocity

baPWV:

Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity

aorticPWV:

Aortic pulse wave velocity

legPWV:

Leg pulse wave velocity

aAIx:

Aortic augmentation index

AIx:

Augmentation index

WBVE:

Whole-body vibration exercise

PV:

Passive vibration

BP:

Blood pressure

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

Control:

No passive vibration

HR:

Heart rate

ECG:

Electrocardiogram

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

PP:

Pulse pressure

P1:

Aortic pressure wave composed of a forward wave

P2:

Aortic pressure wave composed of a reflected wave

aAIx@75:

AIx normalized to a heart rate of 75 bpm

Tr:

Time of reflection

BMI:

Body mass index

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Jacob VanLandingham, Sheree Porter, Tallahassee Memorial Hospital’s Stroke Wellness Group, Mrs. Nimmons, Aphasia Communication Group at FSU’s Department of Communication Disorders, Mary Gebel and Stroke Support Group for help with subject recruitment. We also thank Power Plate International for providing the vibrating platforms. We are grateful to our participants.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences, The Florida State University, 120 Convocation Way, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA

    Andrew P. Koutnik, Alexei Wong, Roy Kalfon, Takudzwa A. Madzima & Arturo Figueroa

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  1. Andrew P. Koutnik
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  2. Alexei Wong
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  3. Roy Kalfon
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  4. Takudzwa A. Madzima
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  5. Arturo Figueroa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Arturo Figueroa.

Additional information

Communicated by David C. Poole.

Clinicaltrial.gov register, NCT01841840.

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Koutnik, A.P., Wong, A., Kalfon, R. et al. Acute passive vibration reduces arterial stiffness and aortic wave reflection in stroke survivors. Eur J Appl Physiol 114, 105–111 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2756-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2756-y

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