Abstract
<p>Although whole-body vibration (WBV) combined with static stretching (SS) have proven a suitable method to enhance flexibility without losing muscular strength, it is still unknown what its effect are on running mechanics. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to examine the effect of a WBV combined with SS (WBVSS) warm up procedure on lower limb stiffness and spatiotemporal variables during running. Twenty-two female gymnasts performed 30-s running bouts at 4.44 m.s-1 on a treadmill before and after a WBVSS intervention stimulus. The WBVSS stimulus included two sets of 20s of SS of four different muscle groups on the vibration platform. Leg and vertical stiffness values were calculated using a spring mass model. The results showed a statistically significant interaction effect on vertical stiffness (Kvert), leg stiffness (Kleg), change in leg length (ΔL), maximal ground reaction force (Fmax), contact time (Tc), and flight time (Tf). Results indicated that, a warm-up including SS combined with WBV did not produce significant effect on mean values of Kleg and Kvert, and related kinetic and kinematic variables.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0994/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>
Highlights
IntroductionDuring these actions the musculoskeletal structures of the legs alternately store and return elastic energy, so the legs could be described as spring based - on spring-mass model theory (Blickhan, 1989; Dalleau et al, 1998; McMahon & Cheng, 1990)
The results showed significant reduction for leg stiffness (-3.24%), increased time contact (0.96%), and ΔL (2.44%) after the WBVSS protocol, whereas the rest the examined variables remained unchanged
The present study revealed that WBVSS has a detrimental effect on leg stiffness and some kinetic and spatiotemporal variables as well
Summary
During these actions the musculoskeletal structures of the legs alternately store and return elastic energy, so the legs could be described as spring based - on spring-mass model theory (Blickhan, 1989; Dalleau et al, 1998; McMahon & Cheng, 1990). Previous findings by Pappas et al (2017) reported that SS and DS did not affect leg or vertical stiffness; DS affect positively vertical ground reaction force, which resulted in significant increase in flight time, step length and vertical displacement of the CoM and a decrease in step rate
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