Abstract
Whole-body vibration (WBV) is commonly applied in exercise and rehabilitation and its safety issues have been a major concern. Vibration measured using accelerometers can be used to further analyze the vibration transmissibility. Optimal bending angles and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) evaluations have not been sufficiently explored to mitigate the adverse effect. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the effect of various knee flexion angles on the transmissibility to the head and knee, the RPE during WBV exposure, and the link between the transmissibility to the head and the RPE. Sixteen participants randomly performed static squats with knee flexion angles of 90, 110, 130, and 150 degrees on a WBV platform. Three accelerometers were fixed on the head, knee, and center of the vibration platform to provide data of platform-to-head and platform-to-knee transmissibilities. The results showed that the flexion angle of 110 degrees induced the lowest platform-to-head transmissibility and the lowest RPE (p < 0.01). A positive correlation between RPE and the platform-to-head transmissibility was observed. This study concluded that a knee flexion of about 110 degrees is most appropriate for reducing vibration transmissibility. The reported RPE could be used to reflect the vibration impact to the head.
Highlights
Whole-body vibration (WBV) has been studied in the fields of sports and rehabilitation to enhance training outcomes [1,2,3,4]
The objective results of this study showed that squatting at certain knee angles produced distinct effects on the vibration transmission to the head and knee
A knee flexed at 110 degrees was the optimal angle to minimize the vibration transmission to the head during WBV exposure
Summary
Whole-body vibration (WBV) has been studied in the fields of sports and rehabilitation to enhance training outcomes [1,2,3,4]. Over the last two decades, the use of WBV as a physical exercise and therapy has become a promising approach for improving the strength and muscle power of lower extremities [5,6,7,8]. It has been demonstrated in several studies that WBV improves the aging process of bone, cartilage, muscles, and tendons [8,9,10]. To strike a balance between training effectiveness and one’s well-being, the optimal design of WBV training protocols should be further investigated to provide better training guidelines
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