Whole body vibration as an adjunct to static stretching.
This study was a randomized control trial. The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to determine if stretching the hamstrings during whole-body-vibration (WBV) is more effective than static stretching alone; and 2) to monitor retention of flexibility changes. The main outcome measure was hamstring flexibility as measured in degrees using a passive knee extension test. Thirty-four recreationally active college-age subjects (23.4+/-1.7 yrs) completed this study (22 males, 12 females, avg. ht.=175.6+/-6.4 cm, avg. wt.=74.9+/-11.8 kg). Subjects were assigned to a control group (C), a static stretch group (SS), or a vibration + static stretch group (V). Subjects stretched 5 days/wk for 4-weeks and were followed for 3-weeks after cessation to monitor retention. Analysis showed a significant difference between treatment groups (p<0.0001), time (p<0.0001), gender (p=0.0002) and in treatment*time (p=0.0119), with 14%+/-3.86% (SEM) and 22%+/-3.86% (SEM) increases in flexibility after 4-weeks of stretching for the SS and V groups respectively. Three-week follow-up showed SS returning to baseline with V group still 6.4 degrees (11%+/-3.88% (SEM)) more flexible than at baseline. Stretching concurrently with vibration on a WBV platform appears to be a good adjunct to static stretching with the potential to enhance retention of flexibility gains.
Brigham Young University, Human Performance Research Center, Provo 84602, Utah, United States. brent_feland@byu.edu
J B
JB
Feland
M
M
Hawks
J T
JT
Hopkins
I
I
Hunter
A W
AW
Johnson
D L
DL
Eggett
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D018583:Pliability / Q000502:physiology; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014732:Vibration; D055815:Young Adult