Elbow joint position sense after neuromuscular training with handheld vibration.
BACKGROUND
Clinicians use neuromuscular control exercises to enhance joint position sense (JPS); however, because standardizing such exercises is difficult, validations of their use are limited.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the acute effects of a neuromuscular training exercise with a handheld vibrating dumbbell on elbow JPS acuity.


METHODS
Crossover study.


METHODS
University athletic training research laboratory.


METHODS
Thirty-one healthy, college-aged volunteers (16 men, 15 women, age = 23 + or - 3 years, height = 173 + or - 8 cm, mass = 76 + or - 14 kg).


METHODS
We measured and trained elbow JPS using an electromagnetic tracking device that provided auditory and visual biofeedback. For JPS testing, participants held a dumbbell and actively identified the target elbow flexion angle (90 degrees ) using the software-generated biofeedback, followed by 3 repositioning trials without feedback. Each neuromuscular training protocol included 3 exercises during which participants held a 2.55-kg dumbbell vibrating at 15, 5, or 0 Hz and used software-generated biofeedback to locate and maintain the target elbow flexion angle for 15 seconds.


METHODS
We calculated absolute (accuracy) and variable (variability) errors using the differences between target and reproduced angles.


RESULTS
Training protocols using 15-Hz vibration enhanced accuracy and decreased variability of elbow JPS (P < or = .005), whereas 5-Hz vibration did not affect accuracy (F(1,61) = 2.625, P = .100) but did decrease variability (F(1,61) = 7.250, P = .009). The control condition and 0-Hz training protocol had no effect on accuracy or variability (P > or = .200).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest these neuromuscular control exercises, which included low-magnitude, low-frequency handheld vibration, may enhance elbow JPS. Future researchers should examine vibration of various durations and frequencies, should include injured participants and functional multijoint and multiplanar measures, and should examine long-term effects of training protocols on JPS and injury.
Tripp
Brady L
BL
Department of Applied Physiology & Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, FLG 148, University of Florida, PO Box 118205, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, USA. trippb@hhp.ufl.edu
Faust
Donald
D
Jacobs
Patrick
P
D000328:Adult; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture; D011434:Proprioception; D014732:Vibration / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult