Whole-body-vibration-induced increase in leg muscle activity during different squat exercises.

Full Abstract

This study analyzed leg muscle activity during whole-body vibration (WBV) training. Subjects performed standard unloaded isometric exercises on a vibrating platform (Power Plate): high squat (HS), low squat (LS), and 1-legged squat (OL). Muscle activity of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and gastrocnemius was recorded in 15 men (age 21.2 +/- 0.8 years) through use of surface electromyography (EMG). The exercises were performed in 2 conditions: with WBV and without (control [CO]) a vibratory stimulus of 35 Hz. Muscle activation during WBV was compared with CO and with muscle activation during isolated maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs). Whole-body vibration resulted in a significantly higher (p < 0.05) EMG root-mean-square compared with CO in all muscle groups and all exercises (between +39.9 +/- 17.5% and +360.6 +/- 57.5%). The increase in muscle activity caused by WBV was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in OL compared with HS and LS. In conclusion, WBV resulted in an increased activation of the leg muscles. During WBV, leg muscle activity varied between 12.6 and 82.4% of MVC values.

Author information

Author/s: Roelants, Machteld (M); Verschueren, Sabine M P (SM); Delecluse, Christophe (C); Levin, Oron (O); Stijnen, Valère (V);

Affiliation: Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics Laboratory.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Journal of strength and conditioning research / National Strength & Conditioning Association (J Strength Cond Res), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Feb; vol 20 (issue 1) : pp 124-9

Dates: Created 2006/03/01; Completed 2006/07/20;

PMID: 16503671, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

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