title: Neurocognitive responses to a single session of static squats with whole body vibration.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if the head accelerations using a common whole body vibration (WBV) exercise protocol acutely reduced neurocognition in healthy subjects. Second, we investigated differential responses to WBV plates with 2 different delivery mechanisms: vertical and rotational vibrations. Twelve healthy subjects (N = 12) volunteered and completed a baseline (BASE) neurocognitive assessment: the Immediate Postconcussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT). Subjects then participated in 3 randomized exercise sessions separated by no more than 2 weeks. The exercise sessions consisted of five 2-minute sets of static hip-width stance squats, with the knees positioned at a 45° angle of flexion. The squats were performed with no vibration (control [CON]), with a vertically vibrating plate (vertical vibration [VV]), and with a rotational vibrating plate (rotational vibration [RV]) set to 30 Hz with 4 mm of peak-to-peak displacement. The ImPACT assessments were completed immediately after each exercise session and the composite score for 5 cognitive domains was analyzed: verbal memory, visual memory, visual motor speed, reaction time, and impulse control. Verbal memory scores were unaffected by exercise with or without vibration (p = 0.40). Likewise, visual memory was not different (p = 0.14) after CON, VV, or RV. Significant differences were detected for visual motor speed (p = 0.006); VV was elevated compared with BASE (p = 0.01). There were no significant differences (p = 0.26) in reaction time or impulse control (p = 0.16) after exercise with or without vibration. In healthy individuals, 10 minutes of 30 Hz, 4-mm peak-to-peak displacement vibration exposure with a 45° angle of knee flexion did not negatively affect neurocognition.
authors.affiliation: 1Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Clinical, Health, and Applied Sciences, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, Texas; 2Department of Orthopedics, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas; and 3Memorial Hermann Ironman Sports Medicine Institute, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Amonette
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Maria B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Psarakis
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: Terry L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Dupler
authors.forename: Summer D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Ott
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000502:physiology; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D009048:Motor Skills; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult