The effect of dynamic whole-body vibration warm-up on lower extremity performance

Abstract

Summary Objective Numerous studies have postulated that whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise could be used as a warm-up procedure. Unfortunately, the inconsistency in reporting and standardizing the WBV protocols participate to the lack of consensus of the literature. The purpose of this study was, first, to investigate whether a WBV intervention performed on a vertical synchronous platform could be an effective warm-up procedure. Second, we meticulously paid attention to the quantification of the effective acceleration produced by the platform. Methods Fourteen recreationally active individuals performed either a WBV (30 Hz/4 mm; theoretical acceleration of 71 m·s −2 ) or non-vibration (NWBV) intervention comprising dynamic squatting exercises intermittently (30 s/30 s) during ten minutes. Pre- and post-intervention tests consisted of countermovement jump, bilateral isometric maximal voluntary contraction of knee extensor muscles and sit and reach box test. Post-tests were performed at one and five minutes after the intervention. Results Countermovement jump height (+4.92%; P P −2 ). Conclusion In the absence of change after the NWBV intervention, we concluded that our dynamic WBV exercise constitutes a successful warm-up procedure to improve lower extremity performance. The present results also emphasize that the effective acceleration of the WBV devices should be methodically monitored.