A single bout of whole-body vibration improves hamstring flexibility in university athletes: A randomized controlled trial

• Jorge Olivares Arancibia ^{[1] [2]} ; Patricio Solís Urra ^[2] ; Fernando Rodríguez Rodríguez ^[2] ; Alejandro Santos-Lozano ^[3] ; Javier Sánchez ^[2] ; Juan Martín Hernández ^[3] ; Natalia Zurita Corvalan ^[2] ; Kabir Sadarangani ^{[4] [5]} ; Carlos Cristi Montero ^[2]
  1. [1] Universidade da Coruña

     Universidade da Coruña

     A Coruña, España

     
  2. [2] Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso

     Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso

     Valparaíso, Chile

     
  3. [3] Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes

     Universidad Europea Miguel de Cervantes

     Valladolid, España

     
  4. [4] Universidad San Sebastián

     Universidad San Sebastián

     Comuna de Concepción, Chile

     
  5. [5] Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

     Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

     Madrid, España

     

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• Localización: Journal of Human Sport and Exercise: JHSE, ISSN-e 1988-5202, Vol. 13, Nº. 4, 2018, págs. 776-788
• Idioma: inglés
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• Dialnet Métricas: 1 Cita
• Resumen

  • Hamstring muscle injuries are one of most frequent injuries in team sports. Whole-body vibration (WBV) has an important effect on flexibility that could prevent shortening of the hamstrings. To investigate both acute and residual effect of a single bout of WBV on hamstring flexibility in a group of university athletes from team sports 70 athletes (81% men, age 21 ± 1.9 years old) were separated into three groups; control group (CG; n=24), hamstring flexibility group without vibration (-V; n=23), and hamstring flexibility group with vibration (+V; n=23). Both -V and +V groups performed the same experimental protocol, composed of 6 sets of 30 seconds of passive hamstring flexibility over a vibration platform with both legs alternately (full-length 6 minutes; 3 minutes per leg). A high-magnitude vibration loading was applied only in +V group (40 Hz and 4 mm). Hamstring flexibility was evaluated through the Modified Sit and Reach (MSR) and Passive Straight Leg Raise (PSLR) test before (baseline), immediately after (acute effect), and after 72 h (residual effect) intervention. Both experimental groups showed a significant improvement in flexibility compared to CG in all measures (p<0.05). No statistical differences were found between +V and –V, however, MSR, right PSLR, and left PSLR residual effect size (Cohen's d) were greater in +V. In conclusion, adding a WBV stimulus to flexibility training improves acute and residual hamstring flexibility in university athletes from team sports.