Vibration training: An overview of the area, training consequences, and future considerations

Abstract

zog. Vibration training: an overview of the area, training con-sequences, and future considerations. J. Strength Cond. Res. 19(2):459±466. 2005.—The effects of vibration on the human body have been documented for many years. Recently, the use of vibration for improving the training regimes of athletes has been investigated. Vibration has been used during strength-training movements such as elbow flexion, and vibration has also been applied to the entire body by having subjects stand on vibration platforms. Exposure to whole-body vibration has also resulted in a significant improvement in power output in the postvibratory period and has been demonstrated to induce sig-nificant changes in the resting hormonal profiles of men. In ad-dition to the potential training effects of vibration, the improve-ment in power output that is observed in the postvibratory pe-riod may also lead to better warm-up protocols for athletes com-peting in sporting events that require high amounts of power output. These observations provide the possibility of new and improved methods of augmenting the training and performance of athletes through the use vibration training. Despite the po-tential benefits of vibration training, there is substantial evi-dence regarding the negative effects of vibration on the human body. In conclusion, the potential of vibration treatment to en-hance the training regimes of athletes appears quite promising. It is essential though that a thorough understanding of the im-plications of this type of treatment be acquired prior to its use in athletic situations. Future research should be done with the aim of understanding the biological effects of vibration on mus-cle performance and also the effects of different vibration pro-tocols on muscle performance