Musculoskeletal and cognitive effects of stochastic resonance whole body vibration: a randomized controlled trial

Introduction: We investigated the acute musculoskeletal and cognitive effects of stochastic resonance whole-body vibration (SR-WBV). To our knowledge, no study looked at the effects of SR-WBV on inhibitory control so far. Materials and Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, participants were randomly allocated into a verum (6 Hz, SR-WBV) or sham (2 Hz, SR-WBV) condition. Inhibitory control was measured with the Stroop Test before and after the exercise. Also, muscle stiffness, muscle relaxation, sense of balance and surefootedness were assessed in a questionnaire before and after the exercise. Results: Inhibitory control increased significantly after verum SR-WBV (t = 2.949, P = 0.018), but not after sham SR-WBV (t = 1.165, P = 0.252). Muscle stiffness decreased significantly after verum (t = 5.273, P < 0.000), but not after sham SR-WBV (t = 1.533, P = 0.135). Also, muscle relaxation increased significantly after verum (t = -2.879, P = 0.007), but not after sham SR-WBV (t = -1.650, P = 0.108). Sense of balance increased significantly after verum (t = -2.061, P = 0.047), but not after sham SR-WBV (t = 0.347, P = 0.730). No significant effect was found in surefootedness, whether after verum (t = -0.966, P = 0.341) nor after sham SR-WBV (t = 0.849, P = 0.402). Conclusions: SR-WBV seems to be an appropriate method to improve not only physiological measurements but newly also cognition, i.e. inhibitory control. In this study we could show that SR-WBV exercise reduces interference and increases inhibitory control in a young and healthy sample. Keywords: Stochastic resonance whole body vibration (SRWBV); Musculoskeletal effects; Cognitive effects; Inhibitory control; Randomized controlled trial