Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026
Whole Body Vibration Methods with Survivors of Polio
Published on: October 17, 2018
Does whole-body vibration acutely improve power performance via increased short latency stretch reflex response?
Igor Alexandre Fernandes1, Gregory Kawchuk, Yagesh Bhambhani
1Laboratory Crossbridges, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências do Exercício e do Esporte, Universidade Gama Filho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Objectives:
It remains unclear whether an increased intrafusal mechanical sensitivity is related to the vibration-induced performance improvement. This investigation aimed to determine the residual acute effect of whole-body vibration and its duration on pre-activation levels, short-latency stretch reflex and performance during drop jumps.
Design:
Repeated measures.
Methods:
Eleven amateur athletes performed a set of three 45cm-drop jumps before and during a 20min-interval following three randomized conditions: No, Low (30Hz, 5mm) and High vibration (45Hz, 5mm). Ground reaction force peak, Soleus and Vastus Lateralis short latency stretch reflex onset and amplitude were assessed during drop jumps.
Results:
A significant effect for time revealed an immediate drop jump height increase after High vibration. A longer contact time also followed High vibration while no changes were detected after Low vibration. Vibration did not affect ground reaction force peak and short latency stretch reflex component.
Conclusions:
High vibration constituted an intervention for improving performance although there was no evidence of increased stretch reflex responses.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Muscle Stimulation Frequency
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...
01:22Somatic Spinal Reflexes
One of the most well-known somatic spinal reflexes is the stretch reflex, which is activated by the sudden stretching of a muscle. This reflex involves the activation of specialized sensory receptors called muscle spindles, which are located in the muscle tissue and detect changes in the length and speed of muscle contractions. When a muscle is suddenly...
01:20Motor Unit Stimulation
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...