Does Muscular Force of the Upper Body Increase Following Acute, Direct Vibration?

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to examine the acute effect of direct vibration has on bicep curl force-generating capacity. 11 healthy team and individual sport-trained males performed right and left DB bicep curl at 50% of 1 RM where peak force (PF), mean force (MF), rate of force development (RFD) and electromyography (EMG) were assessed during the concentric phase before and immediately after direct vibration. Using new vibration technology utilizing a pulsing frequency (0–170 Hz) each arm was randomly assigned to receive either 10 min of direct vibration or control (no vibration). Following direct vibration PF increased 6.6±4.5 N (difference pre-post±90 CL; p>0.05) compared to control FP (−1.2±65 N; p>0.05) however, this was not significant. Furthermore, there were no other significant changes (p>0.05) in MP, RFD and EMG between vibration and control arms. This is in agreement with other research that has reported that acute strength changes from vibration elicits negligible changes, however it appears that there are no detrimental effects of using this new vibration device.

Key words

strength - rate of force development - preacher curl - biceps brachii

• References

• 1 Abercromby AFJ, Amonette WE, Layne CS, McFarlin BK, Hinman MR, Paloski WH. Variation in neuromuscular responses during acute whole-body vibration exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2007; 39: 1642-1650
• 2 Blackburn JT, Pamukoff DN, Sakr M, Vaughan AJ, Berkoff DJ. Whole body and local muscle vibration reduce artificially induced quadriceps arthrogenic inhibition. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2014; 95: 2021-2028
• 3 Bove M, Nardone A, Schieppati M. Effects of leg muscle tendon vibration on group Ia and group II reflex responses to stance perturbation in humans. J Physiol 2003; 550: 617-630
• 4 Burke D, Hagbarth KE, Lofstedt L, Wallin BG. Responses of human muscle-spindle endings to vibration during isometric contraction. J Physiol 1976; 261: 695-711
• 5 Burke D, Hagbarth KE, Lofstedt L, Wallin BG. Responses of human muscle-spindle endings to vibration of non-contracting muscles. J Physiol 1976; 261: 673-693
• 6 Cochrane DJ, Hawke EJ. Effects of acute upper-body vibration on strength and power variables in climbers. J Strength Cond Res 2007; 21: 527-531
• 7 Cochrane DJ, Stannard SR, Walmsley A, Firth EC. The acute effect of vibration exercise on concentric muscular characteristics. J Sci Med Sport 2008; 11: 527-534
• 8 Cochrane DJ. Vibration exercise: the potential benefits. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 75-99
• 9 Couto BP, Silva HR, Filho AG, da Silveira Neves SR, Ramos MG, Szmuchrowski LA, Barbosa MP. Acute effects of resistance training with local vibration. Int J Sports Med 2013; 34: 814-819
• 10 Desmedt JE, Godaux E. Mechanism of the vibration paradox – excitatory and inhibitory effects of tendon vibration on single soleus muscle motor units in man. J Physiol 1978; 285: 197-207
• 11 Drinkwater EJ, Galna B, McKenna MJ, Hunt PH, Pyne DB. Validation of an optical encoder during free weight resistance movements and analysis of bench press sticking point power during fatigue. J Strength Cond Res 2007; 21: 510-517
• 12 Duchateau J, Enoka RM. Neural adaptations with chronic activity patterns in able-bodied humans. Am J Phys Med Rehab 2002; 81: S17-S27
• 13 Eklund G, Hagbarth KE. Normal variability of tonic vibration reflexes in man. Exp Neurol 1966; 16: 80-92
• 14 Fattorini L, Ferraresi A, Rodio A, Azzena GB, Filippi GM. Motor performance changes induced by muscle vibration. Eur J Appl Physiol 2006; 98: 79-87
• 15 Folland JP, Williams AG. The adaptations to strength training – Morphological and neurological contributions to increased strength. Sports Med 2007; 37: 145-168
• 16 Garcia-Lopez D, Herrero AJ, Gonzalez-Calvo G, Rhea MR, Marin PJ. Influence of “in series” elastic resistance on muscular performance during a biceps-curl set on the cable machine. J Strength Cond Res 2010; 24: 2449-2455
• 17 Hagbarth K, Eklund G. Tonic vibration reflexes (TVR) in spasticity. Brain Res 1966; 2: 201-203
• 18 Hakkinen K, Komi PV, Kauhanen H. Electromyographic and force production characteristics of leg extensor muscles of elite weight lifters during isometric, concentric, and various stretch-shortening cycle exercises. Int J Sports Med 1986; 7: 144-151
• 19 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Ethical standards in sport and exercise science research: 2016 update. Int J Sports Med 2015; 36: 1121-1124
• 20 Humphries B, Warman G, Purton J, Doyle T, Dugan E. The influence of vibration on muscle activation and rate of force development during maximal isometric contractions. J Sports Sci Med 2004; 3: 16-22
• 21 Issurin VB, Tenenbaum G. Acute and residual effects of vibratory stimulation on explosive strength in elite and amateur athletes. J Sports Sci 1999; 17: 177-182
• 22 Kin-Isler A, Acikada C, Aritan S. Effects of vibration on maximal isometric muscle contraction at different joint angles. Isokinet Exerc Sci 2006; 14: 213-220
• 23 Kraemer WJ, Ratamess NA. Fundamentals of resistance training: Progression and exercise prescription. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2004; 36: 674-688
• 24 Leary BK, Statler J, Hopkins B, Fitzwater R, Kesling T, Lyon J, Phillips B, Bryner RW, Cormie P, Haff GG. The relationship between isometric force-time curve characteristics and club head speed in recreational golfers. J Strength Cond Res 2012; 26: 2685-2697
• 25 Luo J, Clarke M, McNamara B, Moran K. Influence of resistance load on neuromuscular response to vibration training. J Strength Cond Res 2009; 23: 420-426
• 26 Marin PJ, Rhea MR. Effects of vibration training on muscle strength: A meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res 2010; 24: 548-556
• 27 Mileva KN, Bowtell JL, Kossev AR. Effects of low-frequency whole-body vibration on motor-evoked potentials in healthy men. Exp Physiol 2009; 94: 103-116
• 28 Moran K, McNamara B, Luo J. Effect of vibration training in maximal effort (70% 1RM) dynamic bicep curls. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2007; 39: 526-533
• 29 Pollock RD, Woledge RC, Martin FC, Newham DJ. Effects of whole body vibration on motor unit recruitment and threshold. J Appl Physiol 2012; 112: 388-395
• 30 Poston B, Holcomb WR, Guadagnoli MA, Linn LL. The acute effects of mechanical vibration on power output in the bench press. J Strength Cond Res 2007; 21: 199-203
• 31 Rittweger J. Vibration as an exercise modality: how it may work, and what its potential might be. Eur J Appl Physiol 2010; 108: 877-904
• 32 Ritzmann R, Kramer A, Gruber M, Gollhofer A, Taube W. EMG activity during whole body vibration: motion artifacts or stretch reflexes?. Eur J Appl Physiol 2010; 110: 143-151
• 33 Stone MH, Sanborn K, O’Bryant HS, Hartman M, Stone ME, Proulx C, Ward B, Hruby J. Maximum strength-power-performance relationships in collegiate throwers. J Strength Cond Res 2003; 17: 739-745
• 34 Stone MH, Sands WA, Carlock J, Callan S, Dickie D, Daigle K, Cotton J, Smith SL, Hartman M. The importance of isometric maximum strength and peak rate-of-force development in sprint cycling. J Strength Cond Res 2004; 18: 878-884
• 35 Warman G, Humphries B, Purton J. The effects of timing and application of vibration on muscular contractions. Aviat Space Environ Med 2002; 73: 119-127