Effects of whole body vibration training and mental training on mobility, neuromuscular performance, and muscle strength in older men. Author: Goudarzian M1, Ghavi S2, Shariat A3, Shirvani H4, Rahimi M5 Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Iranian Research Center on Healthy Aging, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran. <sup>2</sup>Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Semnan, Semnan, Iran. <sup>3</sup>Sports Medicine Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. <sup>4</sup>Exercise Physiology Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. <sup>5</sup>Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran. Conference/Journal: J Exerc Rehabil. Date published: 2017 Oct 30 Other: Volume ID: 13 , Issue ID: 5 , Pages: 573-580 , Special Notes: doi: 10.12965/jer.1735024.512. eCollection 2017 Oct. , Word Count: 256 This study was designed to evaluate the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) exercise, mental training (MT), and the concurrent effect of WBV and MT on lower body balance, neuromuscular performance, and leg muscle strength in elderly men. In a randomized control trial study with parallel group design, 42 older men (mean±standard deviation age, 68±5.78 years) were randomly divided into four groups: WBV (n=11), MT (n=12), WBV+MT (n=10), and control (n=9) groups. The protocol of training consisted of three sessions per week for 8 weeks and about 30 min for each session. The WBV exercise was performed on a vibration machine. In MT group, participants were asked to mentally visualize to do the Timed Up and Go and relaxation technics. postural stability, the Timed Up and Go test, 5-repetition chair-rising test, 6-m tandem gait test, 10-m walking, and leg isometric strength were measured in baseline and after 8-week intervention. Repeated measures-analysis of variance followed by post hoc was used to analyses the data. The results of this study showed that there were significant improvements (P<0.05) in postural stability, Timed Up and Go, 5-repetition chair-rising, 6-m tandem gait test, 10-m walking, and leg isometric strength in WBV, MT, and WBV+MT in comparison with baseline and in comparison with control group. It seems that older adults can take benefit from WBV and MT and WBV+MT exercise as a cost-effective and practical way without side effects to improve postural control, mobility, and functional performance. KEYWORDS: Aging; Mental training; Mobility; Muscle strength; Stability; Vibration PMID: 29114533 PMCID: PMC5667605 DOI: 10.12965/jer.1735024.512