Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2010; 31(8): 584-589
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1254084
Clinical Sciences

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Whole Body Vibration as an Adjunct to Static Stretching

J. B. Feland1 , M. Hawks2 , J. T. Hopkins2 , I. Hunter2 , A. W. Johnson2 , D. L. Eggett3
  • 1Brigham Young University, Human Performance Research Center, Provo, Utah, United States
  • 2Brigham Young University, Exercise Sciences, Provo, Utah, United States
  • 3Brigham Young University, Statistics, Provo, Utah, United States
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision April 05, 2010

Publication Date:
09 June 2010 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

This study was a randomized control trial. The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to determine if stretching the hamstrings during whole-body-vibration (WBV) is more effective than static stretching alone; and 2) to monitor retention of flexibility changes. The main outcome measure was hamstring flexibility as measured in degrees using a passive knee extension test. Thirty-four recreationally active college-age subjects (23.4±1.7 yrs) completed this study (22 males, 12 females, avg. ht.=175.6±6.4 cm, avg. wt.=74.9±11.8 kg). Subjects were assigned to a control group (C), a static stretch group (SS), or a vibration + static stretch group (V). Subjects stretched 5 days/wk for 4-weeks and were followed for 3-weeks after cessation to monitor retention. Analysis showed a significant difference between treatment groups (p<0.0001), time (p<0.0001), gender (p=0.0002) and in treatment*time (p=0.0119), with 14%±3.86% (SEM) and 22%±3.86% (SEM) increases in flexibility after 4-weeks of stretching for the SS and V groups respectively. Three-week follow-up showed SS returning to baseline with V group still 6.4 degrees (11%±3.88% (SEM)) more flexible than at baseline. Stretching concurrently with vibration on a WBV platform appears to be a good adjunct to static stretching with the potential to enhance retention of flexibility gains.

Key words

vibration - stretching - flexibility - hamstring - whole-body-vibration

References

  • 1 Atha J, Wheatley DW. Joint mobility changes due to low frequency vibration and stretching exercise.  Br J Sports Med. 1976;  10 26-34
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Bogaerts A, Verschueren S, Delecluse C, Claessens AL, Boonen S. Effects of whole body vibration training on postural control in older individuals: a 1 year randomized controlled trial.  Gait Posture. 2007;  26 309-316
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Bosco C, Cardinale M, Tsarpela O. Influence of vibration on mechanical power and electromyogram activity in human arm flexor muscles.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1999;  79 306-311
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Bosco C, Colli R, Introini E, Cardinale M, Tsarpela O, Madella A, Tihanyi J, Viru A. Adaptive responses of human skeletal muscle to vibration exposure.  Clin Physiol. 1999;  19 183-187
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Bosco C, Iacovelli M, Tsarpela O, Cardinale M, Bonifazi M, Tihanyi J, Viru M, De Lorenzo A, Viru A. Hormonal responses to whole-body vibration in men.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000;  81 449-454
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Bruyere O, Wuidart MA, Di Palma E, Gourlay M, Ethgen O, Richy F, Reginster JY. Controlled whole body vibration to decrease fall risk and improve health-related quality of life of nursing home residents.  Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005;  86 303-307
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Burke D, Hagbarth KE, Lofstedt L, Wallin BG. The responses of human muscle spindle endings to vibration of non-contracting muscles.  J Physiol. 1976;  261 673-693
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Cochrane DJ, Legg SJ, Hooker MJ. The short-term effect of whole-body vibration training on vertical jump, sprint, and agility performance.  J Strength Cond Res. 2004;  18 828-832
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Cochrane DJ, Stannard SR. Acute whole body vibration training increases vertical jump and flexibility performance in elite female field hockey players.  Br J Sports Med. 2005;  39 860-865
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Cochrane DJ, Stannard SR, Sargeant AJ, Rittweger J. The rate of muscle temperature increase during acute whole-body vibration exercise.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2008;  103 441-448
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Cordo P, Gurfinkel VS, Bevan L, Kerr GK. Proprioceptive consequences of tendon vibration during movement.  J Neurophysiol. 1995;  74 1675-1688
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Cormie P, Deane RS, Triplett NT, McBride JM. Acute effects of whole-body vibration on muscle activity, strength, and power.  J Strength Cond Res. 2006;  20 257-261
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Cronin J, Nash M, Whatman C. The acute effects of hamstring stretching and vibration on dynamic knee joint range of motion and jump performance.  Phys Ther Sport. 2008;  9 89-96
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Cronin J, Nash M, Whatman C. The effect of four different vibratory stimuli on dynamic range of motion of the hamstrings.  Phys Ther Sport. 2007;  8 30-36
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Dahlin L, Lund I, Lundeberg T, Molander C. Vibratory stimulation increase the electro-cutaneous sensory detection and pain thresholds in women but not in men.  BMC Complement Altern Med. 2006;  6 20
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Decoster LC, Cleland J, Altieri C, Russell P. The effects of hamstring stretching on range of motion: a systematic literature review.  J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2005;  35 377-387
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Delecluse C, Roelants M, Diels R, Koninckx E, Verschueren S. Effects of whole body vibration training on muscle strength and sprint performance in sprint-trained athletes.  Int J Sports Med. 2005;  26 662-668
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Delecluse C, Roelants M, Verschueren S. Strength increase after whole-body vibration compared with resistance training.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003;  35 1033-1041
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Draper DO, Castro JL, Feland B, Schulthies S, Eggett D. Shortwave diathermy and prolonged stretching increase hamstring flexibility more than prolonged stretching alone.  J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2004;  34 13-20
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 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. 2006;  85 956-962
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Feland JB, Marin HN. Effect of submaximal contraction intensity in contract-relax proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching.  Br J Sports Med. 2004;  38 E18
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Folpp H, Deall S, Harvey LA, Gwinn T. Can apparent increases in muscle extensibility with regular stretch be explained by changes in tolerance to stretch?.  Aust J Physiother. 2006;  52 45-50
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Gajdosik RL, Rieck MA, Sullivan DK, Wightman SE. Comparison of four clinical tests for assessing hamstring muscle length.  J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1993;  18 614-618
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Gerodimos V, Zafeiridis A, Karatrantou K, Vasilopoulou T, Chanou K, Pispirikou E. The acute effects of different whole-body vibration amplitudes and frequencies on flexibility and vertical jumping performance.  J Sci Med Sport. 2009;  Epub ahead of print
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. International Journal of Sports Medicine – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 701-702
    Google Scholar
  • 26 Henricson AS, Fredriksson K, Persson I, Pereira R, Rostedt Y, Westlin NE. The effect of heat and stretching on the range of hip motion*.  J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1984;  6 110-115
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Hollins M, Roy EA, Crane SA. Vibratory antinociception: effects of vibration amplitude and frequency.  J Pain. 2003;  4 381-391
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Hopkins JT, Fredericks D, Guyon PW, Parker S, Gage M, Feland JB, Hunter I. Whole body vibration does not potentiate the stretch reflex.  Int J Sports Med. 2009;  30 124-129
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Hopkins T, Pak JO, Robertshaw AE, Feland JB, Hunter I, Gage M. Whole body vibration and dynamic restraint.  Int J Sports Med. 2008;  29 424-428
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Issurin VB, Liebermann DG, Tenenbaum G. Effect of vibratory stimulation training on maximal force and flexibility.  J Sports Sci. 1994;  12 561-566
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Jacobs PL, Burns P. Acute enhancement of lower-extremity dynamic strength and flexibility with whole-body vibration.  J Strength Cond Res. 2009;  23 51-57
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Kawanabe K, Kawashima A, Sashimoto I, Takeda T, Sato Y, Iwamoto J. Effect of whole-body vibration exercise and muscle strengthening, balance, and walking exercises on walking ability in the elderly.  Keio J Med. 2007;  56 28-33
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Kerschan-Schindl K, Grampp S, Henk C, Resch H, Preisinger E, Fialka-Moser V, Imhof H. Whole-body vibration exercise leads to alterations in muscle blood volume.  Clin Physiol. 2001;  21 377-382
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Kinser AM, Ramsey MW, O'Bryant HS, Ayres CA, Sands WA, Stone MH. Vibration and stretching effects on flexibility and explosive strength in young gymnasts.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2008;  40 133-140
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Lohman 3rd EB, Petrofsky JS, Maloney-Hinds C, Betts-Schwab H, Thorpe D. The effect of whole body vibration on lower extremity skin blood flow in normal subjects.  Med Sci Monit. 2007;  13 CR71-76
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Lythgo N, Eser P, de Groot P, Galea M. Whole-body vibration dosage alters leg blood flow.  Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 2009;  29 53-59
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Magnusson SP. Passive properties of human skeletal muscle during stretch maneuvers.  A review. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 1998;  8 65-77
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Magnusson SP, Simonsen EB, Aagaard P, Boesen J, Johannsen F, Kjaer M. Determinants of musculoskeletal flexibility: viscoelastic properties, cross-sectional area, EMG and stretch tolerance.  Scand J Med Sci Sports. 1997;  7 195-202
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Mester J, Spitzenfeil P, Schwarzer J, Seifriz F. Biological reaction to vibration--implications for sport.  J Sci Med Sport. 1999;  2 211-226
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 Mitchell UH, Myrer JW, Hopkins JT, Hunter I, Feland JB, Hilton SC. Acute stretch perception alteration contributes to the success of the PNF „contract-relax” stretch.  J Sport Rehabil. 2007;  16 85-92
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Moore MA, Hutton RS. Electromyographic investigation of muscle stretching techniques.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1980;  12 322-329
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 42 Osternig LR, Robertson RN, Troxel RK, Hansen P. Differential responses to proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretch techniques.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990;  22 106-111
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 43 Roelants M, Delecluse C, Goris M, Verschueren S. Effects of 24 weeks of whole body vibration training on body composition and muscle strength in untrained females.  Int J Sports Med. 2004;  25 1-5
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 44 Roelants M, Delecluse C, Verschueren SM. Whole-body-vibration training increases knee-extension strength and speed of movement in older women.  J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004;  52 901-908
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 45 Roelants M, Verschueren SM, Delecluse C, Levin O, Stijnen V. Whole-body-vibration-induced increase in leg muscle activity during different squat exercises.  J Strength Cond Res. 2006;  20 124-129
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 46 Sands WA, McNeal JR, Stone MH, Russell EM, Jemni M. Flexibility enhancement with vibration: Acute and long-term.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;  38 720-725
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 47 Tihanyi TK, Horvath M, Fazekas G, Hortobagyi T, Tihanyi J. One session of whole body vibration increases voluntary muscle strength transiently in patients with stroke.  Clin Rehabil. 2007;  21 782-793
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 48 Torvinen S, Kannu P, Sievanen H, Jarvinen TA, Pasanen M, Kontulainen S, Jarvinen TL, Jarvinen M, Oja P, Vuori I. Effect of a vibration exposure on muscular performance and body balance. Randomized cross-over study.  Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 2002;  22 145-152
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 49 Torvinen S, Sievanen H, Jarvinen TA, Pasanen M, Kontulainen S, Kannus P. Effect of 4-min vertical whole body vibration on muscle performance and body balance: a randomized cross-over study.  Int J Sports Med. 2002;  23 374-379
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 50 van den Tillaar R. Will whole-body vibration training help increase the range of motion of the hamstrings?.  J Strength Cond Res. 2006;  20 192-196
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 51 Verschueren SM, 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. 2004;  19 352-359
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 52 Warren CG, Lehmann JF, Koblanski JN. Heat and stretch procedures: an evaluation using rat tail tendon.  Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1976;  57 122-126
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 53 Zhang Q, Ericson K, Styf J. Blood flow in the tibialis anterior muscle by photoplethysmography during foot-transmitted vibration.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2003;  90 464-469
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 54 Zoppi M, Voegelin MR, Signorini M, Zamponi A. Pain threshold changes by skin vibratory stimulation in healthy subjects.  Acta Physiologica Scandinavica. 1991;  143 439-443
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar

Correspondence

Dr. J. Brent Feland

Brigham Young University

Human Performance Research Center

RB – 120A

84602 Provo

United States

Phone: +1/801/422 1182

Fax: +1/801/422 0555

Email: brent_feland@byu.edu

      >