title: Acute static vibration-induced stretching enhanced muscle viscoelasticity but did not affect maximal voluntary contractions in footballers.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of acute vibration-enhanced static stretching and/or static stretching alone on the strength and flexibility of the hamstrings and quadriceps muscles. Twenty-one male footballers participated in this study (21.9 ± 1.8 years; 75.54 ± 7.3 kg; 178.7 ± 6.5 cm). The experiment started with 5 minutes standardized warm-up followed by (a) baseline flexibility pretest (Split Test); (b) maximal voluntary flexion and extension (isokinetic strength) of the knee; (c) Treatment or Sham involving 45-second stretch with or without vibration for the hamstring and quadriceps muscle groups with 10-second rest between; and (d) posttest repeating the measures of the pretest. Each player randomly performed both trials on separate occasions. The vibration device operated at 35 Hz with 2 mm amplitude. Stretching with vibration statistically increased hamstring flexibility by 7.8% (p ≤ 0.05) when compared with stretching without vibration. No statistical differences for hamstring or quadriceps strength were noted between treatment conditions. There was no statistical correlation between flexibility and strength measurements. In conclusion, flexibility increased with vibration-enhanced static stretching; however, no change was evident in the maximal voluntary contractions of the knee flexors and extensors.
authors: 1School of Science, University of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom; 2Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar Saïd, Tunisia; 3INEFC, Barcelona, Spain; 4School of Sport Science, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee; and 5Qatar University, Sport Science, Doha, Qatar.
authors: Monèm
authors: M
authors: Jemni
authors: Bessem
authors: B
authors: Mkaouer
authors: Michel
authors: M
authors: Marina
authors: Arben
authors: A
authors: Asllani
authors: William A
authors: WA
authors: Sands
mesh_terms: D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004548:Elasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D053580:Muscle Strength; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology; D013848:Thigh; D014732:Vibration; D055815:Young Adult