Strenght Increase After Whole-Body Vibration Compared Wiht Resistance Training

Strength Increase after Whole-Body Vibration Compared with Resistance Training
CHRISTOPHE DELECLUSE1, MACHTELD ROELANTS1, and SABINE VERSCHUEREN2
1

Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics Laboratory, and 2Laboratory of Motor Control, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Department of Kinesiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, BELGIUM

ABSTRACT DELECLUSE, C., M. ROELANTS, and S. VERSCHUEREN. Strength Increase after Whole-Body Vibration Compared with Resistance Training. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 35, No. 6, pp. 1033–1041, 2003. Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate and to compare the effect of a 12-wk period of whole-body vibration training and resistance training on human knee-extensor strength. Methods: Sixty-seven untrained females (21.4 1.8 yr) participated in the study. The whole-body vibration group (WBV, N 18) and the placebo group (PL, N 19) performed static and dynamic knee-extensor exercises on a vibration platform. The acceleration of the vibration platform was between 2.28 g and 5.09 g, whereas only 0.4 g for the PL condition. Vibration (35– 40 Hz) resulted in increased EMG activity, but the EMG signal remained unchanged in the PL condition. The resistance-training group (RES, N 18) trained knee extensors by dynamic leg-press and leg-extension exercises (10 –20 RM). All training groups exercised 3 wk 1. The control group (CO, N 12) did not participate in any training. Pre- and postisometric, dynamic, and ballistic knee-extensor strength were measured by means of a motor-driven dynamometer. Explosive strength was determined by means of a counter-movement jump. Results: Isometric and dynamic knee-extensor strength increased significantly (P 0.001) in both the WBV group (16.6 10.8%; 9.0 3.2%) and the RES group (14.4 5.3%; 7.0 6.2%), respectively, whereas the PL and CO group showed no significant (P 0.05) increase. Counter-movement jump height enhanced significantly (P 0.001) in the WBV group (7.6 4.3%) only. There...