Effects of Low-Frequency Vibration on Physiological Recovery from Exhaustive Exercise

Abstract

Objective: This study examined the effects of low-frequency vibration on physiological recovery from exhaustive exercise. Methods: Twelve college males were recruited in this randomized crossover-designed study, and were asked to perform one of three treatments following a graded cycling exercise test: nonvibration (0 Hz, 0 mm, CON), high-amplitude vibration (8 Hz, 8 mm, HVT), or low-amplitude vibration (8 Hz, 2 mm, LVT). After the 10-min treatment, participants were asked to rest in a supine position for a 1-h recovery. The oxygen uptake, heart rate (HR), and blood lactate concentration (La) were measured during the trials. Results: The oxygen uptake during HVT were significantly higher than those in the CON and LVT (p < 0.05, effect size = 1.52−1.63). The La immediately following HVT was significantly lower than that following CON (HVT vs. CON = 11.52 ± 1.85 vs. 12.95 ± 1.78 mmol•L-1, p < 0.05, effect size = 1.94). Additionally, the Las following HVT and LVT at the post 30-min were significantly lower than that following the CON (HVT vs. LVT vs. CON = 4.72 ± 0.97 vs. 4.58 ± 1.06 vs. 5.98 ± 1.49 mmol•L-1, p < 0.05). No significant differences were found on the HRs, or on the time and frequency domain indices of HR variability among treatments during the recovery period. Conclusion: These results indicated that vibration with low frequency (8 Hz) can facilitate the removal of metabolic by-products after exhaustive exercise, but it has little effect on the autonomic nervous modulation of HR recovery.

Low-Frequency Vibration Facilitates Post-Exercise Cardiovascular Autonomic Recovery

“…According to the present experimental findings, cardiac autonomic activity can be modulated by 10 minutes of 15 Hz LBV applied immediately after submaximal exercise (3-min step test), in which heart rate variability is enhanced and the autonomic balance moves toward parasympathetic tone. Another similar study by Cheng et al (2017) showed that applying LBV at 8 Hz for 10 minutes after exhaustive incremental cycling exercise may promote cardiac parasympathetic tone, though the result was not statistically significant. The different results may be due to the small sample size (n = 12) in the previous study, or the difference in the vibration frequency or exercise intensity.…”

“…In the latter, intermittent LBV in the sitting posture was applied for six minutes interspersed with a oneminute rest every minute. Additionally, low-frequency (8 Hz) vibration (seating on a chair and feet on a vertical vibrator) during the post-exercise period seemed to enhance vagal tone (Cheng et al, 2017). Based on the above studies, the parasympathetic neurological system may be activated under post-exercise low-frequency vibration (< 20 Hz).…”

“…There are few investigations concerning the effects of low-frequency (< 20 Hz) vibration on the cardiovascular system. One study found that 8 Hz lower-body vibration (LBV) accelerates the elimination of metabolic byproducts after exhaustive exercise (Cheng et al, 2017), but the mechanism is unclear. One of the hypotheses of the present study is that low-frequency vibration facilitates the dilation of peripheral arteries.…”