Exploring the Effects of Vibration Therapy
Related to Athletic Performance
Please note:
The following are presented as objective
studies conducted by independent researchers. Good
Vibrations 4 Life Inc. has no affiliation with any of the
following researchers or the publications listed, nor are the
studies presented in any particular order.
This is not intended to be a complete list
of studies, but an additional resource to the athlete, coach
and trainer's research into the best training solutions for an
individual.
For safety reasons, Good Vibrations 4 Life
Inc. does not encourage the use of weights on its vibration
equipment. Good Vibrations 4 Life Inc. promotes the use
of vibration therapy as a supplement to separate resistance
training exercises.
Although some studies may suggest 30 Hz or
more as an optimum frequency for achieving results with respect
to athletic performance, Good Vibrations 4 Life Inc. suggests
the use of its vibration therapy equipment at frequencies below
30 Hz. Long-term exposure to frequencies of 30 Hz or
more, for as little as 10 minutes per day, have been shown to
lead to possibly detrimental health effects.
Good Vibrations 4 Life Inc. presents its
oscillating (rotational) vibration therapy GVM TM as a
more pleasant, safe and comfortable alternative to
(simultaneous) vertical vibration therapy machines.
Studies:
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
(2011) 10, 169 - 174
THE EFFECT OF WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION
FREQUENCY AND AMPLITUDE ON THE MYOELECTRIC ACTIVITY OF VASTUS
MEDIALIS AND VASTUS LATERALIS
From the article:
"The observed findings suggest that
myoelectric activity increases both with the amplitude and
frequency (being the strongest at the frequency of 60 Hz and
the 4 mm amplitude). Therefore, high frequencies and amplitudes
might be recommended for trainers, fitness instructors and
physiotherapists to improve the effectiveness of their training
and rehabilitation programs involving vibration platforms.
However, in order to avoid the use of high frequencies which
are sometimes unpleasant for certain individuals, practitioners
should modulate the vibration characteristics by combining
lower frequencies with higher amplitudes and, based on our
finding, still expect the same outcome of the applied
training."
Journal of Strength & Conditioning
Research: August 2003
Electromyography Activity of Vastus
Lateralis Muscle During Whole-Body Vibrations of Different
Frequencies.
From the article:
"Statistical analysis showed that, in
all vibration conditions, average EMGrms activity of vastus
lateralis was higher than in the no-vibration condition. The
highest EMGrms was found at 30 Hz, suggesting this frequency as
the one eliciting the highest reflex response in vastus
lateralis muscle during whole-body vibrations in half-squat
position"
International Journal of Sports Physical
Therapy, Aug 2012;
IMMEDIATE EFFECTS OF LOCALIZED VIBRATION
ON HAMSTRING AND QUADRICEP MUSCLE PERFORMANCE
From the article:
"Unilateral application of localized
vibration to the hamstrings at a duration previously reported
to increase flexibility did not diminish the isometric
performance of the hamstrings or quadriceps of either
leg."
Journal of Strength & Conditioning
Research: May 2006
ACUTE EFFECTS OF WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION ON
MUSCLE ACTIVITY, STRENGTH, AND POWER.
From the article:
"Whole-body vibration resulted in a
significantly higher (p <= 0.05) JH during the CMJ
immediately following vibration, as compared with the sham
condition"
Journal of Bone and Mineral Research,
May 2003
Effect of 8-Month Vertical Whole Body
Vibration on Bone, Muscle Performance, and Body Balance: A
Randomized Controlled Study
From the article:
"The 8-month vibration intervention
succeeded well and was safe to perform but had no effect on
mass, structure, or estimated strength of bone at any skeletal
site. Serum markers of bone turnover did not change during the
vibration intervention. However, at 8 months, a 7.8% net
benefit in the vertical jump height was observed in the
vibration group (95% CI, 2.8-13.1%; p = 0.003)."
European Journal of Applied Physiology,
March 2000
Hormonal Responses to Whole Body Vibration
in Men
From the article:
"The results showed a significant
increase in the plasma concentration of T and GH, whereas C
levels decreased. An increase in the mechanical power output of
the leg extensor muscles was observed together with a reduction
in EMGrms activity. Neuromuscular efficiency improved, as
indicated by the decrease in the ratio between EMGrms and
power. Jumping performance, which was measured using the
counter-movement jump test, was also enhanced. Thus, it can be
argued that the biological mechanism produced by vibration is
similar to the effect produced by explosive power training
(jumping and bouncing). “
Biology of Sport, Vol. 15 No. 3, 1998
The Influence of Whole Body Vibration on
Jumping Performance
From the article:
"Marked, significant improvements were
noted in group E in the power output of the height of the best
jump (by 6.1 and 12% respectively, P<0.05) and mean jump
height in continuous jumping for 5 s (by 12%, P<0.01). In
contrast, no significant variations were noted in group C. It
was suggested that the effect of whole body vibration elicited
a fast biological adaptation associated to neural
potentiation."
American Journal of Physical Medicine
& Rehabilitation: December 2006
The Effects of a Whole-Body Vibration
Program on Muscle Performance and Flexibility in Female
Athletes
From the article:
"Whole-body vibration is a suitable
training method to improve knee extension maximal strength,
counter-movement jump, and flexibility in a young female
athlete if it is properly designed. Not only do the optimal
frequency, amplitude, and g-forces need to be identified but
also the level of muscle activation that would benefit more
from vibration stimulation. The improvement of flexibility is
important not only for performance but also for the prevention
of muscle-tendon injury.”
Journal of Strength & Conditioning
Research: March 2010
Effects of Vibration Training on Muscle
Power: A Meta-Analysis
From the article:
"Differences were noted in both acute
and chronic changes in power when vertical vibration platforms
were compared with oscillating platforms. Vertical platforms
elicit a significantly larger treatment effect for chronic
adaptations (ES = 0.99) as compared with oscillating platforms
(ES = 0.36). The data also show that age is a moderator of the
response to vibration exercise for power. On the basis of the
overall analysis, it is apparent that vibration exercise can be
effective at eliciting chronic power adaptations. Exercise
professionals can include vibration exercise as a means of
fostering power improvements."
European Journal of Applied Physiology
and Occupational Physiology, April 1999
Influence of vibration on mechanical power
and electromyogram activity in human arm flexor muscles
From the article:
"The results showed statistically
significant enhancement of the average power in the arm treated
with vibrations. The root mean square electromyogram (EMGrms)
had not changed following the treatment but, when divided by
mechanical power, (P) as an index of neural efficiency, it
showed statistically significant increases. It was concluded
that mechanical vibrations enhanced muscle P and decreased the
related EMG/P relationship in elite athletes. Moreover, the
analysis of EMGrms recorded before the treatment and during the
treatment itself showed an enormous increase in neural activity
during vibration up to more than twice the baseline values.
This would indicate that this type of treatment is able to
stimulate the neuromuscular system more than other treatments
used to improve neuromuscular properties."
