Focal Vibration on the Performance of Amateur Athletes

Summary

Focal vibration is an adjustable instrument, which has the ability to apply vibration to a specific point at different hertz, powers and rhythms. The use of general or focused vibration is not new in the rehabilitation or sports field. Vibration is intended to stimulate neuromuscular uses to produce involuntary and additional contractions of muscle tissue, indirectly causing an increase in strength or muscle mass , improved fall prevention, mobility and bone consolidation. This type of device has been used both in athletes and in patients with chronic diseases or in intensive care units. There are studies that use vibration in critically ill patients because it is a safe and feasible intervention for dependent patients. One of the advantages of focal vibration is that it can be used in both unloading and loading, which allows a wide range of adaptation to each patient, even simultaneously during a training activity.

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a focal vibration treatment on strength, jumping and running speed in national federated athletes who perform sprinting and jumping in their sports practice.

A sample will be recruited during the months of April to September, estimating a sample of 70 total subjects (35 subjects in the vibration group and 35 subjects in the vibration placebo group).

Patients will receive a single treatment and assessments will be performed on the same day.

The focal vibration group will receive a 30-minute quadriceps intervention. 3 channels will be used on the muscle bellies of the rectus anterior, vastus internus and vastus externus. The vibration program configuration will be in an automatic mode of 10 seconds of vibration 3 seconds of rest to avoid mechanoreceptor coupling. The frequency used will be between 60 Hz to 150 Hz with a power of 80%. The placebo group will perform the same treatment as the intervention group but without the focal vibration head contacting the skin (placebo). A sufficient space will be left between the head and the headgear so that the vibration does not touch the skin as shown in previous studies.

A V-Plus machine (Wintecare S.A.) will be used for the vibration treatment. For the assessment measurements, a surface electromyograph, a force measurement dynamometer, the MyJump2 application for jump assessment and two photoelectric cells for sprint measurement will be used.

Conditions

• Vibration; Exposure
• Sports Physical Therapy

Interventions

OTHER

Focal Vibration

A single 30-minute focal vibration procedure will be performed on both quadriceps with the V-Plus Wintecare® machine. Three channels will be used on the muscle bellies of the rectus anterior, vastus internus and vastus externus. The positioning of the vibration heads will be done with straps designed by the manufacturer to keep the vibration focus stable on the muscle belly. The configuration of the vibration program will be in an automatic mode of 10 seconds of vibration and 3 seconds of rest to avoid the coupling of the mechanoreceptors. The frequency used will be between 60 Hz to 150 Hz with a power of 80%.

OTHER

Sham Group

The same procedure of the intervention group will be performed but without the focal vibration head contacting the skin (sham). A sufficient space will be left between the head and the headgear so that the vibration does not touch the skin.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2023-03-01

Primary Completion

2023-04-01

Completion

2023-04-01

Countries

• Spain

Study Locations