Altaf et al. (2026) — Sex-Specific Effects of Progressive Whole-Body Vibration Combined with Active Exercises on Muscle Mass, Strength, and Function in Sarcopenic Older Adults

By Vibrahealth Team · Last updated 22 July 2026

Study Details

Study: Sex-specific effects of progressive whole-body vibration combined with active exercises on muscle mass, strength, and function in sarcopenic older adults

Authors: Altaf S, Malmir K, Mir SM, Olyaei GR, Aftab A, Rajput TA

Journal: Scientific Reports

Year: 2026

DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-53239-3

Study type: 8-week randomised controlled trial with follow-up

Population: 56 older adults (≥60) with sarcopenia (EWGSOP2 criteria), 28 per group (14 women/14 men per group).

Plain-English Summary

This 2026 RCT tested an 8-week progressive-frequency whole-body vibration programme (dynamic squats, 15–40 Hz, 1.2–1.8mm amplitude) combined with active exercise, against the same active exercise without vibration, specifically examining whether effects differ between women and men.

What Researchers Examined

• Skeletal muscle index
• Physical Performance Test
• Timed Up & Go (TUG)
• Quadriceps and grip strength
• Fear of falling (FES-I)
• Follow-up durability of gains

Key Findings

In women, WBV combined with exercise produced a significant improvement in skeletal muscle index (p < 0.001, holding after BMI adjustment), Physical Performance Test scores (p < 0.001 after adjustment), Timed Up & Go (p = 0.001), and quadriceps and grip strength (right leg/hand, both p < 0.001 after adjustment).

In men, most measures did not reach statistical significance — with one exception: Physical Performance Test scores did improve significantly in men too (p = 0.013), though with a smaller effect than in women. Quadriceps strength, grip strength, and TUG did not show significant improvement in men.

Fear of falling (FES-I) improved in women (p = 0.025), but this specific between-group comparison was borderline and did not reach significance versus control (p = 0.054) — a real result, but one that should be read as suggestive rather than confirmed. Functional improvements were often maintained at follow-up in women, though muscle mass and strength gains showed some decline over time.

Methodology Notes

Not literally "no effect" in men. It would overstate the null finding to say WBV had zero effect on men — Physical Performance Test scores did improve significantly in men, just with a smaller effect than in women. The accurate summary is that benefits were more consistent and larger in women across most measures, not that men saw no benefit at all.

The fear-of-falling finding is borderline (between-group p = 0.054) and should not be presented as a confirmed effect without that caveat.

Sustained-benefit caveat: some functional gains held at follow-up in women, but muscle mass/strength gains showed decline — WBV's durability past the active training period is not fully established by this study.

Full Citation

Altaf S, Malmir K, Mir SM, Olyaei GR, Aftab A, Rajput TA. (2026). Sex-specific effects of progressive whole-body vibration combined with active exercises on muscle mass, strength, and function in sarcopenic older adults. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-53239-3

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