Abstract

Recently, researchers have demonstrated that Whole Body Vibration results in significant increases in skin blood flow. No study has determined if there is an optimal frequency or duration for optimizing this response. In addition, there is no known mechanism for the increase in skin blood flow. It is hypothesized that nitric oxide (NO) is responsible for the increase in skin blood flow due to its ability to vasodilate the smooth muscle in response to shear stress. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to determine the optimal frequency and duration of vibration and determine if NO is the mechanism for the vibration-induced skin blood flow increases. In this study three populations were examined: young adults (age = <45 >years, n=53), older adults (age = >45 years, n=10) and adults with type II diabetes (age = >45 years, n=10). Vibration was provided by a Power Plate set at either 30 or 50 Hz and skin blood flow was assessed by a laser Doppler. The role of NO was determined by using venous blood samples, which were tested for nitric oxide metabolites by a process called chemiluminescence. In addition, NO production was blocked with L-NAME to see if the skin blood flow response would be blocked. By the fourth minute 30 and 50 Hz vibration significantly increased skin blood flow and peak flows were obtained by the fifth minute. Although there was no significant difference between 30 and 50 Hz, 50 Hz was able to increase skin blood flow more rapidly and keep it elevated throughout 15 minutes of recovery. In the young adults, NO production (544%) and skin blood flow (569%) increased significantly (p

LLU Discipline

Rehabilitation Sciences

Department

Rehabilitation Sciences

School

Graduate Studies

First Advisor

Jerrold Petrofsky

Second Advisor

David Hessinger

Third Advisor

Everett Lohman

Fourth Advisor

Ernest Schwab

Fifth Advisor

Grenith Zimmerman

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2007

Date (Title Page)

8-2007

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Vibration -- therapeutic use; Skin -- blood supply; Blood Physiology.

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xiii; 81

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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