Effect of whole body vibration exercise on muscle activity when using elastic resistance bands

Abstract

Introduction: Whole-body vibration (WBV) has been shown to increase muscle fiber recruitment during isotonic contractions. No prior published studies have used elastic resistance. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the acute effects of a single bout of WBV on electromyography (EMG) activity during exercise when using elastic resistance.METHOD: 30 participants (14 male; 16 female) aged 18-30 were recruited for this study. Surface electromyography (sEMG) activity was then determined while participants performed the arm curl and squat using elastic resistance under three conditions: no vibration exposure, during acute vibration exposure, and immediately following acute vibration exposure. Seven muscles of interest were chosen: gastrocnemius, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris biceps brachii, triceps brachii, and lateral deltoid. Vibration was administered using a vibration platform (Wave®; ProElite, Windsor, ON Canada) at a frequency of 35Hz at 2mm displacement amplitude.RESULTS: Results indicate significant increases (.05) in sEMG in all seven muscles of interest between the pre-vibration (control) trial and the vibration trial. Additionally, the vastus medialis, gastrocnemius, biceps brachii and lateral deltoid yielded increased sEMG activity immediately following vibration.CONCLUSION: These data suggest sEMG activity is significantly increased during WBV. These data also suggest sEMG activity is significantly increased immediately following WBV in the prime-movers of the squat and arm curl.