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Int J Sports Med 2013; 34(04): 318-323
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1311596
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Lower Limbs Power and Stiffness after Whole-Body Vibration

S. S. Colson
1   Laboratory of Human Motricity, Education, Sport and Health, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France
,
P.-D. Petit
1   Laboratory of Human Motricity, Education, Sport and Health, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History



accepted after revision 17 February 2012

Publication Date:
09 November 2012 (online)

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Abstract

The interest in whole-body vibration (WBV) for the enhancement of neuromuscular performance has received considerable attention. However, scientific evidence supporting the optimal prescription of WBV settings is lacking. This study investigated the acute effect of WBV combining high frequency/high peak-to-peak displacement (HH) or low frequency/low peak-to-peak displacement (LL) vs. sham intervention (SHAM) on lower limb muscle power and stiffness. A total of 223 volunteers were randomly assigned to either the HH, LL or SHAM group. Countermovement jump (CMJ) height, maximal and average power, maximal and average lower limbs stiffness obtained during a hopping test were recorded before and after the respective intervention. After the intervention, the HH group showed an increase of 4.64% in CMJ height (p<0.001) whereas the values of both the LL and SHAM groups did not change. In addition, maximal and average power of the lower limbs were significantly increased in all groups (p<0.001; 10.89% and 12.82%, respectively) while no effect on lower limbs stiffness was observed. Our data show that high frequency combined with high peak-to-peak displacement is the most optimal WBV setting for CMJ height enhancement. Further investigation should be undertaken to ascertain the effectiveness of WBV on lower limbs stiffness.

Key words

countermovement jump - leg stiffness - hopping - vibration frequency - vibration peak-to-peak displacement
 

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