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Updated: Mar 29, 2026

Induction and Assessment of Exertional Skeletal Muscle Damage in Humans
Published on: December 11, 2016
Whole-Body Vibration While Squatting and Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness in Women
Nicole C Dabbs1, Christopher D Black2, John Garner3
1California State University, San Bernardino;
Context:
Research into alleviating muscle pain and symptoms in individuals after delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) has been inconsistent and unsuccessful in demonstrating a useful recovery modality.
Objective:
To investigate the effects of short-term whole-body vibration (WBV) on DOMS over a 72-hour period after a high-intensity exercise protocol.
Design:
Randomized controlled clinical trial.
Setting:
University laboratory.
Patients Or Other Participants:
Thirty women volunteered to participate in 4 testing sessions and were assigned randomly to a WBV group (n = 16; age = 21.0 ± 1.9 years, height = 164.86 ± 6.73 cm, mass = 58.58 ± 9.32 kg) or a control group (n = 14; age = 22.00 ± 1.97 years, height = 166.65 ± 8.04 cm, mass = 58.69 ± 12.92 kg).
Intervention(S):
Participants performed 4 sets to failure of single-legged split squats with 40% of their body weight to induce muscle soreness in the quadriceps. The WBV or control treatment was administered each day after DOMS.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Unilateral pressure-pain threshold (PPT), range of motion (ROM), thigh circumference, and muscle-pain ratings of the quadriceps were collected before and for 3 days after high-intensity exercise. Each day, we collected 3 sets of measures, consisting of 1 measure before the WBV or control treatment protocol (pretreatment) and 2 sets of posttreatment measures.
Results:
We observed no interactions for PPT, thigh circumference, and muscle pain (P > .05). An interaction was found for active ROM (P = .01), with the baseline pretreatment measure greater than the measures at baseline posttreatment 1 through 48 hours posttreatment 2 in the WBV group. For PPT, a main effect for time was revealed (P < .05), with the measure at baseline pretreatment greater than at 24 hours pretreatment and all other time points for the vastus medialis, greater than 24 hours pretreatment through 48 hours posttreatment 2 for the vastus lateralis, and greater than 24 hours pretreatment and 48 hours pretreatment for the rectus femoris. For dynamic muscle pain, we observed a main effect for time (P < .001), with the baseline pretreatment measure less than the measures at all other time points. No main effect for time was noted for thigh circumference (P = .24). No main effect for group was found for any variable (P > .05).
Conclusions:
The WBV treatment approach studied did not aid in alleviating DOMS after high-intensity exercise. Further research is needed in various populations.
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