Effect of Acute Exposure to Whole-Body-Vibration on Vertical Jump in Senior Athlete Volleyball Players

Abstract

Prior research has shown that acute exposure to low frequency whole body vibration can improve isometric knee extension strength and vertical jump in college-aged subjects. To date, no studies have observed the acute effect of whole-body-vibration exposure on vertical jump performance in active elderly subjects (senior athletes). PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 60-seconds of whole body vibration exposure on vertical jump in male senior volleyball athletes. METHODS: 38 male senior volleyball players (mean age 60 ± 6.0 yrs) participating in the World Senior Games were used for this study. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups (control (sham vibration) and vibration). Following warm-up, subjects were pre-tested for both counter movement jump and a step-jump height using a “just jump” mat, calculating airtime and vertical jump height. Subjects in the vibration group were then exposed to two bouts of 30-second whole body vibration on a Galileo 2000 at 26 Hz, with 1-minute rest between bouts. 2 minutes following vibration subjects were again tested for both countermovement and step-jump vertical height in block order. Subjects in the control group underwent the same procedure except the vibration unit was never turned on. The best jump of three trials (pre and post jumping periods) was used for analysis. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the countermovement jumps for either group (F= .243, p=.625), but a significant difference existed over time for the attack jump in the vibration group (F=29.76, p=.0001). No differences were pre-post for the control group. CONCLUSIONS: 1 minute of vibration exposure facilitates an increase in step-jump height but does not change counter-movement jump height in male senior volleyball athletes. Further research is needed to compare other power and strength variables to show how whole-body-vibration affects performance in senior athletes.