The effects of vibration therapy on muscle force loss following eccentrically induced muscle damage

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acute vibration therapy (VT) on performance recovery after a bout of strenuous eccentric exercise. Eight healthy males completed 300 maximal eccentric contractions of the quadriceps of one leg on an isokinetic dynamometer. Immediately after exercise and 12 and 24 h post-exercise, the subjects underwent either VT or a control treatment of no VT. Five sets of 1 min VT was performed at 26 Hz, with 6 mm peak-to-peak displacement, on a commercially available vibration machine. At least 2 weeks after the initial trial, the subjects completed the second trial using the contralateral leg and other treatment. Peak and average peak isometric tension and isokinetic concentric and eccentric torque were measured prior to exercise and 24 and 48 h post-exercise. Treatment with VT resulted in significantly (all P < 0.05) greater decrements in peak (-38%) and average peak eccentric (-39%) torque 24 h after eccentric exercise as compared to a control treatment (-24 and -29%, respectively). These results suggest that the use of 26 Hz VT in the first 24 h after damaging exercise may be detrimental to the magnitude of force loss and/or recovery over this period.