This review analyses state of the art whole body vibration exercise techniques, …

• Abstract
• Introduction
• Is vibration a natural stimulus?
• Vibration and muscle activation: the muscle tuning hypothesis
• Metablolic effects of vibrations
• Acute effects of vibration on neuromuscular performance
• Chronic effects of vibration on neuromuscular performance
• Conclusions
• References
• Figure

Biology Articles » Biophysics » Medical Biophysics » Whole body vibration exercise: are vibrations good for you?

Abstract

- Whole body vibration exercise: are vibrations good for you?

Whole body vibration exercise: are vibrations good for you?

¹ College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK and British Olympic Medical Institute, Northwick Park Hospital, London, UK
² The Royal Veterinary College, Structure and Motion Laboratory, North Mymms, Herts AL9 7TA, UK

Correspondence to:
Dr Cardinale
College of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK; m.cardinale@abdn.ac.uk

Accepted 25 April 2005

Whole body vibration has been recently proposed as an exercise intervention because of its potential for increasing force generating capacity in the lower limbs. Its recent popularity is due to the combined effects on the neuromuscular and neuroendocrine systems. Preliminary results seem to recommend vibration exercise as a therapeutic approach for sarcopenia and possibly osteoporosis. This review analyses state of the art whole body vibration exercise techniques, suggesting reasons why vibration may be an effective stimulus for human muscles and providing the rationale for future studies.

Abbreviations: WBV, whole body vibration; WBVT, whole body vibration training

Keywords: whole body vibration; vibration exercise; neuromuscular performance

Source: British Journal of Sports Medicine 2005;39:585-589.