The chronic and acute effects of whole body vibration training

Abstract

Whole body vibration training (WBVT) has gained a lot of interest for its proposed benefits across a range of populations both active and injured. The purpose of the present thesis was to test the efficacy of WBVT in terms of injury rehabilitation and performance enhancement amongst professional and amateur athletes. The five papers submitted for the degree of PhD by publication are grouped into two key themes relevant to the development of knowledge and evidence to advance a better understanding of the chronic and acute effects of WBVT. The themes encompass the efficacy of WBVT (Chronic) as a rehabilitation tool and as an addition to a warm-up routine (acute). The explanatory narrative provides a brief background to WBVT, a summary of each paper and what the paper has contributed to the field both in terms of knowledge and methodological development. The papers presented provide evidence that chronic WBVT is an effective method of improving balance and stability in athletes suffering functional ankle instability (FAI) (Paper 1). Even when compared to traditional methods of rehabilitation for FAI, the addition of WBVT enhances the benefits of traditional rehabilitation protocols (Paper 2). The use of acute WBVT enhances reactive strength, again showing a significant benefit as an addition to a more traditional warm-up (FIFA 11+) amongst amateur soccer players (Paper 3). When training status was considered (amateur vs. professional), high frequency acute WBVT stimulus significantly improved landing stability (DPSI) amongst professional players only (Paper 4). These differences between groups were also identified when examining knee extensor potentiation and force output with significant improvements amongst professional but not amateur soccer players. Professional players also reported significantly greater beliefs in the effectiveness of WBVT (Paper 5). In conclusion the body of work presented discusses the practical and methodological implications of the new knowledge presented and identifies a series of future lines of research.