The effect of 8 weeks of whole body vibration training on static balance and explosive strength of lower limbs in physical education students

George Dallas,Alexandros Mavvidis,Paschalis Kirialanis,Sotiris Papouliakos

doi:10.5507/ag.2017.018

Abstract

Background: It has been shown that whole body vibration training has an effect on strength and balance in athletes of various sports.Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of 8 weeks of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) training on static balance and explosive strength of the lower limbs, using two different training intensities vibration protocols.Methods: Eighty-three physical education students (age 19.39 ± 2.35 years) volunteered to participate in an 8-week WBV training. They were randomly divided into two groups with 30 sec and 60 sec duration of vibration exposure per exercise, total volume of exercise was the same for both groups. The explosive strength of the lower limbs was assessed by a squat jump and static balance by Balance Error Scoring System at the baseline (pre-test) and after 8 weeks of WBV training at 15 sec, 5, 10, and 15 min after the end of WBV exposure. A two-way ANOVA 2 × 5 (protocol × time) with repeated measures on both factors was used. Univariate analyses with simple contrasts across time were selected as post hoc tests.Results: Results showed a time × protocol interaction effect for static balance (p .05). Furthermore, a time effect was found for the static balance and squat jump test. The 60 sec protocol had a greater percentage improvement compared to the 30 sec protocol in static balance (p = .003), whereas the 30 sec protocol was superior to the 60 sec protocol in explosive strength. However, the differences between the two protocols were not significant.Conclusion: WBV training had positive effects on static balance and explosive strength in physical education students. Balance and jump performance may benefit from WBV training. Therefore, WBV may be an effective training method for the improvement of static balance and lower limb strength.

Highlights

Whole Body Vibration (WBV) has been reported as an effective neuromuscular strength training method to improve athletic performance (Chen, Liu, Chuang, Chung, & Shiang, 2014; Preatoni et al, 2012) and is potentially a less demanding method of increasing power output than traditional training (Marin & Rhea, 2010)
Pollock, Provan, Martin, and Newham (2011) who examined the effect of WBV at two amplitudes on balance, joint position sense and cutaneous sensation in eighteen young healthy subjects found that neither amplitude affected joint position sense or static balance, but reduced cutaneous sensation
Little is known about the effects of vibration training on static balance and explosive strength of physical education students who during their daily courses occupy themselves with sport activities

Summary

Introduction

Whole Body Vibration (WBV) has been reported as an effective neuromuscular strength training method to improve athletic performance (Chen, Liu, Chuang, Chung, & Shiang, 2014; Preatoni et al, 2012) and is potentially a less demanding method of increasing power output than traditional training (Marin & Rhea, 2010). Pérez-Turpin et al (2014) studied 23 volleyball and beach volleyball athletes and concluded that after a 6-week WBV training their lower limb muscle strength and jumping ability is significantly improved compared to traditional strength training. The purpose of this study was, to investigate the effect of an 8-week WBV intervention on static balance and explosive strength of lower limbs of physical education students using two different training intensities of vibration protocols. Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of 8 weeks of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) training on static balance and explosive strength of the lower limbs, using two different training intensities vibration protocols. The explosive strength of the lower limbs was assessed by a squat jump and static balance by Balance Error Scoring System at the baseline (pre-test) and after 8 weeks of WBV training at 15 sec, 5, 10, and 15 min after the end of WBV exposure. WBV may be an effective training method for the improvement of static balance and lower limb strength

Objectives

Methods

Results