Effects of whole body vibration exercise on the neuromuscular system: a brief review
Abstract
The use of vibration platforms for training purposes and rehabilitation has taken large proportions in recent years. Its potential to stimulate the muscle apparatus has been studied while evaluating acute and chronic adaptations in different populations. Significant alterations in muscular strength, power, flexibility, bone mineral density, besides other variables, are observed in the literature. However, it is also important to consider that exaggerated exposure to vibration can cause neurological, vascular and musculoskeletal damage to the human organism. Thus, this manuscript aims at discussing: (1) up-to-date information on physiological and biomechanical mechanisms related to the neuromuscular responses to the vibratory stimulus; (2) potential problems relating to human exposition to vibration; and (3) the reasons why vibration can be considered useful in the context of training and rehabilitation. The results of the reviewed scientific studies suggest that vibration training has great application potential in the fields of physical fitness and rehabilitation exercises. The complete understanding of the neuromuscular mechanism of vibration responses or adaptive response to whole body vibration still needs further investigation. A limitation found in the reviewed literature is the lack of specific protocols for each population and their effort type, taking into consideration the variables involved such as frequency, displacement, magnitude and time of exposition. It is also necessary a better understanding regarding the negative effects of vibration in the human body so that we can use, in a safe way, the vibration training as a stimulus for physical training.
References
-Abercromby, A.F.J.; Amonete, W.E.; Layne, C.S.; Mcfarlin, B.K.; Hinman, M.R.; Paloski, W.H. Variation in Neuromuscular Response during Acute Whole-Body Vibration Exercise. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. Vol. 39. Núm. 9. p. 1642-1650. 2007.
-Ahlborg, L.; Andersson, C.;Julin, P. Whole-Body Vibration Training Compared with Resistance Training: Effect on Spasticity, Muscle Strength and Motor Performance in Adults with Cerebral Palsy. J Rehabil Med. Vol. 38. p. 302-308. 2006.
-Balbinot, A. Caracterização dos Níveis de vibração em Motoristas de ônibus: Um Enfoque no Conforto e na Saúde. Porto Alegre, 2001. Tese de Doutorado. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Mecânica. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre. 2001.
-Bazet-Jones, D. M.; Finch, H. W.; Dugan, E. L. Comparing the effects of various whole-body vibration accelerations on counter-movement jump performance. J Sports Sci Med. Vol. 7. p. 144-150. 2008.
-Bear, M.F.; Connors, B.W.; Paradiso, M.A. Neurociências: Desvendando o Sistema Nervoso. 3ª edição. Porto Alegre. Artmed. 2008.
-Blotner, D.; Salanova, M.; Püttman, B.; Schiffl, G.; Felsenberg, D.; Buehring, B.; e colaboradores. Human skeletal muscle structure and function preserved by vibration muscle exercise following 55 days of bed rest. Eur J Appl Physiol. Vol. 97. p. 261-271. 2006.
-Bosco, C.; Cardinale, M.; Tsarpela, O. Influence of vibration on mechanical power and eletromyogram activity in human arm flexor muscles. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. Vol. 79. p. 306-311. 1999.
-Bosco, C.; Lacovelli, M.; Tsarpela, O.; Cardinale, M.; Bonifazi, M.; Tihanyi, J.; e colaboradores. Hormonal responses to whole body vibrations in man. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. Vol. 81. p. 449-454. 2000.
-Bruyere, O.; Wuidart, M-A.; Di Palma, E.; Goulay, M.; Ethgen, O.; Richy, F.; Reginster, J-Y. Controlled whole body vibration to decrease fall risk and improve health-related quality of life of nursing home residents. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. Vol. 86. p. 303-307. 2005.
-Cardinale, M.; Bosco, C. The use of vibration as an exercise intervention. Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev. Vol. 31. Núm. 1. p. 3-7. 2003.
-Cardinale, M.; Lin, J. Electromyography Activity of Vastus Lateralis Muscle During Whole-Body Vibrations of Different Frequencies. J. Strength Cond. Res. Vol. 17. Núm. 3. p. 621-624. 2003.
-Cardinale, M.; Wakeling, J. Whole body vibrations exercise: are vibrations good for you? Br J Sports Med. Vol. 39. p. 585-589. 2005.
-Cochrane, D.J.; Stannard, S.R. Acute whole body vibration training increases vertical jump and flexibility performance in elite female field hockey players. Br J Sports Med. Vol. 39. p. 860-865. 2005.
-Cormie, P.; Deane, R.S.; Triplett, N.T.; McBride, J. M. Acute effects of whole-body vibration on muscle activity strength and power. J. Strength Cond. Res. Vol. 20. Núm. 2. p. 257-261. 2006.
-Costantino, C.; Pogliacomi, F.; Soncini, G.; Effects of the vibration board on the strength of ankle dorsal and plantar flexors muscles: a preliminary randomized controlled study. Acta Biomed. Vol. 77. p. 10-16. 2006.
-Delecluse, C.; Roelants, M. Verschueren, S. Strength Increase after Whole-Body Vibration Compared with Resistance Training. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. Vol. 35. Núm. 6. p. 1033-1041. 2003.
-De Ruiter, C. J.; Van der Linden, R. M.; Van der Zijden, H. A. P.; Haan, A. Short-term effects of whole-body vibration on maximal voluntary isometric knee extensor force and rate of force rise. Eur J Appl Physiol. Vol. 88. p. 472-475. 2003.
-Di Giminiani, R.; Manno, R.; Scrimaglio, R.; Sementilli, G.; Tihanyi, J. Effects of individualized whole-body vibration on muscle flexibility and mechanical power. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. Vol. 50. p. 139-151. 2010.
-Fagnani, F.; Giombini, A.; Di Cesare, A.; Pigozzi, F.; Di Salvo V. The effects of a whole-body vibration program on muscle performance and flexibility in female athletes. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. Vol. 85. Núm. 12. p. 956-62. 2006.
-Fitts, R. H.; Riley, D.R.; Widrick, J. J. Functional and structural adaptations of skeletal muscle to microgravity. J Exp Biol. Vol. 204. p. 3201-3208. 2001.
-Jacobs, P.L.;Burns, P. Acute enhancement of lower-extremity dynamic strength and flexibility with whole-body vibration. J Strength Cond Res. Vol. 23. Núm. 1. p. 51-57. 2009.
-Jordan, M. J.; Norris, S. R.; Smith, D. J.; Herzog, W. Vibration Training: An Overview of the Area, Training Consequences, and Future Considerations. J Strength Cond Res. Vol. 19. Núm. 2. p. 459-466. 2005.
-Kerschan-Schindl, K.; Grampp, S.; Henk, C.; Resch, H.; Preisinger, E.; e colaboradores. Whole-body vibration exercise leads to alterations in muscle blood volume. Clin Phys. Vol. 21. Núm. 3. p. 377-382. 2001.
-Kroemer, K H E.; Grandjean, E. Manual de Ergonomia: Adaptando o Trabalho do Homem. 5ª edição. Porto Alegr. Bookman. 2005.
-Prisby, R. D.; Lafage-Proust, M.H.; Malaval, L.; Belli, A.; Vici, L. Effects of whole body vibration on the skeleton and other organ systems in man and animal models: What we know and what we need to know. Ageing Research Reviews. Vol. 7. p. 319-329. 2008.
-Rauch, F. Vibration therapy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology. Vol. 51. p. 166-168. 2009.
-Rittweger, J.; Karsten, J.; Kautzsch, K.; Reeg, P.; Felsenberg, D. Treatment of chronic lower back pain with lumbar extension and whole-body vibration exercise. SPINE. Vol. 27. Núm. 17. p. 1829-1834. 2002.
-Roelants, M.; Delecluse, C.; Verschueren, S.; Whole-Body Vibration Training Increases Knee-Extension Strength and Speed of Movement in Older Women. J Am Geriatr Soc. Vol. 52. p. 901-908. 2004.
-Sands, W. A.; Mcneal, J.R.; Stone, M.H.; Russel, E.M.; Jemni, M. Flexibility Enhancement with Vibration: Acute and Long-Term. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. Vol. 38. Núm. 4. p. 720-725. 2006.
-Torvinen, S.; Kannus, P.; Sievänen, H.; Järvinen, T.A.H.; Pasanen, M.; Kontulainen, e colaboradores. Effect of a vibration exposure on muscular performance and body balance. Randomized cross-over study. Clin Physiol & Func Im. Vol. 22. p. 145-152. 2002.
-Totosy de Zepetnek, J. O.; Giangregorio, L. M.; Craven, B. C. Whole-body vibration as potential intervention for people with low bone mineral densityand osteoporosis: A review. J Reab Res & Dev. Vol. 46. Núm. 4. p. 529-542. 2009.
-Vendrame, A.C. Vibração Ocupacional –Estado da Arte [internet]. Disponível em http://cis.engenheiros.pt/2007/comunicacoes/Vendrame. 2007.
-Verschueren, S.M.; Roelants, M.; Delecluse, C.; Swinnen, S.; Vanderschueren, D.; Boonen S. Effect of 6-month whole body vibration training on hip density, muscle strength, and postural control in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled pilot study. J Bone Miner Res. Vol. 19. Núm. 3. p. 352-359. 2004.
Authors who publish in this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain the copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication, with work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License BY-NC which allows the sharing of the work with acknowledgment of the authorship of the work and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are authorized to enter into additional contracts separately for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in this journal (eg, publishing in institutional repository or book chapter), with acknowledgment of authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are allowed and encouraged to post and distribute their work online (eg, in institutional repositories or on their personal page) at any point before or during the editorial process, as this can bring about productive change as well as increase impact and impact. citation of published work (See The Effect of Free Access).
