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Effects of vibration and resistance training on neuromuscular and hormonal measures

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Abstract

The aim was to study whether whole body vibration (WBV) combined with conventional resistance training (CRT) induces a higher increase in neuromuscular and hormonal measures compared with CRT or WBV, respectively. Twenty-eight young men were randomized in three groups; squat only (S), combination of WBV and squat (S+V) and WBV only (V). S+V performed six sets with eight repetitions with corresponding eight repetition maximum (RM) loads on the vibrating platform, whereas S and V performed the same protocol without WBV and resistance, respectively. Maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVC) with electromyography (EMG) measurements during leg press, counter movement jump (CMJ) measures (mechanical performance) including jump height, mean power (P mean), peak power (P peak) and velocity at P peak (V ppeak) and acute hormonal responses to training sessions were measured before and after a 9-week training period. ANOVA showed no significant changes between the three groups after training in any neuromuscular variable measured [except P mean, S higher than V (P<0.05)]. However, applying t tests within each group revealed that MVC increased in S and S+V after training (P<0.05). Jump height, P mean and P peak increased only in S, concomitantly with increased V ppeak in all groups (P<0.05). Testosterone increased during training sessions in S and S+V (P<0.05). Growth hormone (GH) increased in all groups but S+V showed higher responses than S and V (P<0.05). Cortisol increased only in S+V (P<0.05). We conclude that combined WBV and CRT did not additionally increase MVC and mechanical performance compared with CRT alone. Furthermore, WBV alone did not increase MVC and mechanical performance in spite of increased GH.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the subjects who participated in the study, laboratory technician Brit Thobo-Carlsen, engineer Cuno Rasmussen, Prof. Per Aagaard and the students Søren Smedegaard, Emil Pedersen and Mogens Fog for their cooperation during the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark

    Thue Kvorning, Malene Bagger & Klavs Madsen

  2. Centre of Applied and Clinical Exercise Science, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark

    Paolo Caserotti

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  1. Thue Kvorning
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  2. Malene Bagger
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  3. Paolo Caserotti
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  4. Klavs Madsen
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Correspondence to Thue Kvorning.

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Kvorning, T., Bagger, M., Caserotti, P. et al. Effects of vibration and resistance training on neuromuscular and hormonal measures. Eur J Appl Physiol 96, 615–625 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0139-3

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