Acute unilateral leg vibration exercise improves contralateral neuromuscular performance

To examine the post-exercise cross-transfer effects of acute whole body vibration (WBV).

Seventeen healthy male volunteers (20.8 ± 1.2 y) performed three unilateral vibration conditions in a randomized order: 1) WBV-50 Hz [high amplitude]; 2) WBV-30 Hz [low amplitude]; and 3) a control no WBV condition (Sham) applied to the dominant leg. Each condition involved maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVC) followed by three leg press explosive repetitions (40% MVC) with non-dominant and dominant legs; which were conducted prior to and post vibration (immediately; 2 min and 5 min). Surface electromygraphy (sEMG) of the vastus lateralis (VL) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) were measured throughout each condition.

A condition x leg x time interaction effect was detected (p=0.001) where 50 Hz-High in the stimulated leg enhanced mean velocity at post-2 min compared to 30 Hz-Low and Sham, remaining elevated at post-5 min. Similarly, 50 Hz-High in the non-stimulated leg increased mean velocity at post-immediately and post-2 min compared to 30 Hz-Low and Sham. There were no changes in sEMG of VL and GM in the stimulated and non-stimulated post-conditions.

WBV (50 Hz) can augment cross-transfer in neuromuscular performance. WBV could provide an alternate method of unilateral training to promote cross education explosive strength.