The Role of Nitric Oxide in Skin Blood Flow Increases Due to Vibration in Healthy Adults and Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

These findings suggest that subjects with diabetes exhibit a lower skin blood flow and lower NO response to externally applied vibration than matched normal subjects.

Whole-body vibration training reduces arterial stiffness, blood pressure and sympathovagal balance in young overweight/obese women

“…WBV may acutely increase local nitric oxide production. 38 Nitrate administration decreases SBP and AIx via a reduction in vascular tone of small arteries independently from aortic PWV. 39 In a previous study, we showed that acute WBV attenuated the increases in reflected wave magnitude, aSBP, leg PWV and baPWV during metaboreflex-induced sympathetic activation following a continuous 4 min session of static squat, suggesting that vibration-related factors induced functional sympatholysis in the legs.…”

Passive vibration on the legs reduces peripheral and systemic arterial stiffness

“…5 PV has been shown to increase blood flow in the microvasculature of exposed limbs. 10 Herrero et al 8 showed an increase in femoral artery blood flow after three 3-min sets of PV in patients with paraplegia. As the subjects were strapped to a table tilted at 451 and PV was applied to the footboard, the short vasodilatory effect could result from the indirect application of PV to a small body area.…”

“…The no-vibration control (CON) and PV sessions were randomized and separated by 48-72 h. Subjects rested in the supine position with their thighs and calves over the vibration platform (Powerplate, Badhoevedorp, The Netherlands) for 20 min before testing, 10 min of CON or PV, and 30 min of recovery. Their legs were directly exposed to continuous vibration at a frequency (25 Hz) and amplitude (2 mm) that provided an acceleration of B5.37 G based on studies showing increased blood flow 8,10 or decreased baPWV 1 and legPWV 2 following intermittent or continuous vibration of similar total duration and/or intensity.…”

Impact of passive vibration on pressure pulse wave characteristics

“…These studies suggest that vascular changes associated with the vibration may be partially owing to an increased metabolic demand in the exposed muscles. 33 In addition, it appears that PV increases local blood flow by increasing endothelial nitric oxide production, 20 while reducing the circulating levels of the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1. 34 Similarly, vasodilation of peripheral arteries by exercise 9 and vasoactive drugs 35 can significantly influence wave reflection by decreasing the tone of small muscular arteries.…”

“…17 Similarly, passive vibration (PV), defined as exposure of the limbs to continuous vibration without performing voluntary muscle contractions, has been shown to increase arm as well as leg skin blood flow in both healthy individuals and type 2 diabetes patients. [18][19][20] Together these studies suggest that acute vibration per se evokes local vasodilation of peripheral arteries, which may decrease AIx and ultimately reduce left ventricular afterload. PV has a potential clinical application as a therapeutic adjuvant, particularly for individuals with disabilities who are unable to embrace regular exercise training.…”