Effect of the Whole-Body Vibration versus Treadmill Training on Liver Function in Obese Adults

There is a lack of awareness of the efficacy of whole-body vibration and treadmill training on liver function in obese adults in Libya. The study aimed to show the difference in the whole-body vibration and treadmill training on liver function in obese adults. Forty obese adults of both genders (21 women and 19 men) were enrolled in this study; they were recruited from the relatives of the patients in Libya. Their age ranged from 35 - 45 years with body mass index (BMI) between 30-34.9 kg/m2 (Class I obesity), the waist/hip ratio less than one, and they were assigned randomly into two equal-sized groups of equal number (A and B). Group (A) includes 20 obese adults who received diet advices (to prevent increasing weight) and treadmill training while group (B) received includes 20 obese adults who received the same diet advices of group (A) and whole-body vibration exercises (vibration frequency was set to 30 Hz then increased gradually to 35 Hz, then the subject took about 20 minutes to fulfill a training session). The participating subjects in this study were assessed by liver enzyme tests and anthropometric measurements. They were evaluated before and after the treatment program, about three sessions per week for eight weeks. The obtained results revealed significant differences in all measured variables before and after treatment in the two groups. Statistically significant difference was also found in post-treatment values of all measured variables when compared between the two groups in favor of group (A). Treadmill training and whole-body vibration exercise can be added to the physical therapy program.