The effects of sole vibration stimulation on Korean male professional volleyball players’ jumping and balance ability

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in jumping ability and lower limb balance ability elicited by plyometric training and vibration exercise, of volleyball players with and without ankle injuries, which frequently occur among Korean professional volleyball players. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-eight volleyball players were divided into the following groups: plyometric with ankle injury (PAI) group; plyometric with non-ankle injury (PAN) group; vibrator with ankle injury (VAI) group; and vibrator with non-ankle injury (VAN) group. After exercise and whole body vibration stimulation, their vertical jumping abilities, side step, and static equilibrium ability were measured. [Results] The vibration exercise group which had experienced ankle injuries showed significant improvements in the sidestep test after the intervention compared to before the intervention. In vertical jumping as well, significant improvements were observed in the VAI group and the VAN group following vibration exercise. In the balance ability test, significant improvesments in the PAN group and the PAI group were observed after the intervention. According to the results of the right side, there was significant change in the left/back side test and the right/back side test before and after the intervention; and in the test of one-leg standing with eyes closed, there were significant group, timing, and interaction effects. [Conclusions] The training method which effectively improved the jumping ability of volleyball players was plyometric training, and for balance ability improvement, whole body vibration exercise was effective.

Foreign Research Works Concerning Training Process Organization in Sport

“…The tendency of jumping results improvement among volleyball players was revealed after the block of vibrating loads fulfillment [8]. 14 professional volleyball players took part in the experiment, which lasted 8 weeks.…”

System design and application for evaluation of digging agility in college male volleyball players

“…The characteristics of the participants did not change between test sessions. They had to meet the following criteria to participate in this study: (1) history of professional volleyball training for at least 5 years, (2) no participation in any formal agility training programs within the 6 months preceding this study, and (3) commitment to participate in agility training program for a minimum of three times per week during the 6-week training period. All participants gave informed consent, and the Committee for the Protection of the Rights of Human Subjects granted approval for this project.…”

“…In a moving defensive position, in addition to executing rapid lateral movements and alternating footsteps, defenders must precisely control the direction and speed of the ball's bounce after it has been received to achieve an effective defense. The results of several studies have indicated that plyometric training can enhance vertical jump performance, 1,2 acceleration, muscular power, and agility. 1,[3][4][5] Plyometric training is a form of strength training that is often used with athletes, particularly those in sports who require jumping ability and agility, to enhance their strength and explosiveness.…”

“…Appropriate plyometric training can be used to increase strength, power, speed, and muscle activation level. [1][2][3][4][5] However, if training is to be used for adaptation, as well as to enhance sports performance and reaction times, training interventions must be long term. Several scholars have applied this concept to various sports training programs, such as soccer, 11,12 and it has enhanced athletes' performance in terms of agility.…”

“…Many scholars have proposed agility as one of the key factors of athletes' performance. [1][2][3][4][5]11,12 Moreover, the abilities to rapidly make decisions and maneuver into position seem to be necessary qualities of elite athletes. In 2002, Young et al 10 divided agility into two major elements-physical ability and cognitive componentsso agility is broadly defined as rapid whole-body movements and changes of direction (CODs) in response to a specific stimulus.…”