International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2015; 36(07): 585-591
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1398650

Orthopedics & Biomechanics

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Effect of Whole-body Vibration on Muscle Activity in Active and Inactive Subjects

K. Lienhard

¹LAMHESS, EA6312, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France

²I3S, CNRS, UMR7271, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Sophia Antipolis, France

³Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

,

J. Vienneau

³Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

,

B. Friesenbichler

³Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

⁴Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Schulthess Clinic, Zurich, Switzerland

,

S. Nigg

³Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

,

O. Meste

²I3S, CNRS, UMR7271, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Sophia Antipolis, France

,

B. M. Nigg

³Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

,

S. S. Colson

¹LAMHESS, EA6312, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France

²I3S, CNRS, UMR7271, University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Sophia Antipolis, France

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare lower limb muscle activity between physically active and inactive individuals during whole-body vibration exercises. Additionally, transmissibility of the vertical acceleration to the head was quantified. 30 active and 28 inactive participants volunteered to stand in a relaxed (20°) and a squat (60°) position on a side-alternating WBV platform that induced vibrations at 16 Hz and 4 mm amplitude. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was measured in selected lower limb muscles and was normalized to the corresponding sEMG recorded during a maximal voluntary contraction. The vertical acceleration on the head was evaluated and divided by the vertical platform acceleration to obtain transmissibility values. Control trials without vibration were also assessed. The outcomes of this study showed that (1) WBV significantly increased muscle activity in the active (absolute increase: +7%, P <0.05) and inactive participants (+8%, P <0.05), (2) with no differences in sEMG increases between the groups (P>0.05). However, (3), transmissibility to the head was greater in the active (0.080) than the inactive participants (0.065, P <0.05). In conclusion, inactive individuals show similar responses in sEMG due to WBV as their active counterparts, but are at lower risk for potential side-effects of vibration exposure.

Key words

Key words

acceleration - surface electromyography - fitness level - inactive population - knee flexion angle

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