The effects of acute whole body vibration as a recovery modality following high-intensity interval training in well-trained, middle-aged runners

Abstract

The main purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of acute whole body vibration (WBV) on recovery following a 3 km time trial (3 km TT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) (8 x 400 m). Post-HIIT measures included 3 km time-trial performance, exercise metabolism and markers of muscle damage (creatine kinase, CK) and inflammation (c-reactive protein, CRP). A second purpose was to determine the effects of a 3 km TT and HIIT on performance and metabolism the following day. Nine well-trained, middle-aged, male runners [(mean +/- SD) age 45 +/- 6 years, body mass 75 +/- 7 kg, VO2peak 58 +/- 5 ml kg(-1 )min(-1)] performed a constant pace run at 60 and 80% velocity at VO2peak (v VO2peak) followed by a 3-km TT and a 8 x 400-m HIIT session on two occasions. Following one occasion, the athletes performed 2 x 15 min of low frequency (12 Hz) WBV, whilst the other occasion was a non-WBV control. Twenty-four hours after each HIIT session (day 2) participants performed the constant pace run (60 and 80% v VO2peak) and 3 km TT again. There was a significant decrease in 3 km TT performance (~10 s) 24 h after the HIIT session (P < 0.05); however, there were no differences between conditions (control vs. vibration, P > 0.05). Creatine kinase was significantly elevated on day 2, though there were no differences between conditions (P > 0.05). VO2peak and blood lactate were lower on day 2 (P < 0.05), again with no differences between conditions (P > 0.05). These results show no benefit of WBV on running performance recovery following a HIIT session. However, we have shown that there may be acute alterations in metabolism 24 h following such a running session in well-trained, middle-aged runners.

The Effect of Acute Vibration Training on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness in Young Non-Athlete Women

“…In this study, vibration training led to a decrease in pain and muscles' spasms in the experimental group but this reduction was not statistically significant. The results of these researches are consistent with the results of Edge and Lau studies (14,19). In this study, the small effect of vibration training on DOMS treatment was the result of using amplitude and high frequency.…”

Effectiveness of low-frequency vibration recovery method on blood lactate removal, muscle contractile properties and on time to exhaustion during cycling at VO2max power output

“…An innovation of the present study is the local administration of LFV-rec evaluating its effect on blood lactate clearance, muscular contractile properties, and TTE in maximal cycling exercise. To our knowledge, and with the exception of the study conducted by Edge et al (2009), the LFV-rec method applied here is quite different from WBV used in prior studies since the participants sat in front of the platform with their feet on it focusing the vibratory effect only on their lower extremities. In any case, these recovery methods are based on the mechanical massage effect of LFV, which could accelerate the recovery process by increasing blood flow to and from the damaged muscle, remove metabolites in muscle that inhibit tissue repair and stimulate the muscle receptors to ease muscular tension (Cafarelli et al 1990).…”

“…The participants then performed five sets of 2 min exercises with 1 min rest between sets at a frequency of 20 Hz. These vibratory characteristics were chosen according to the conclusions of previous studies in which a frequency of 12 Hz and 6 mm of amplitude (peak to peak) were not sufficient to increase blood flow, muscle temperature, and other neurogenic changes required for enhancing recovery (Edge et al 2009), and based on the assumption that resonance effects appear when frequencies between 2.5 and 16 Hz are used (Goel et al 1994;Randall et al 1997). In P-rec, participants kept the same position on the vibratory platform, but no vibratory stimulus was applied.…”

“…Whilst contrast water therapy, stretching and massage have previously been widely investigated (Barnett 2006), the impact of lowfrequency vibrations (LFV) on muscle recovery has not (Edge et al 2009). In a recent study, Edge et al (2009) found no benefit of whole body vibrations (WBV) on running performance recovery following high-intensity interval training.…”

“…Whilst contrast water therapy, stretching and massage have previously been widely investigated (Barnett 2006), the impact of lowfrequency vibrations (LFV) on muscle recovery has not (Edge et al 2009). In a recent study, Edge et al (2009) found no benefit of whole body vibrations (WBV) on running performance recovery following high-intensity interval training. These authors used WBV at a frequency of 12 Hz, lower than that applied by Bakhtiary et al (2007) who reported that administering 50 Hz of local vibration to each lower limb significantly reduced 24 h postexercise creatine kinase levels and increased the recovery of isometric force production.…”