Whole-body vibration (WBV) has been shown to have beneficial effects on strength and power indices in sedentary and moderately trained individuals. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of 4 weeks WBV on jump height, active range of motion and leg anthropometry in conservatoire dance students. 17 female dancers were randomly assigned to a control or intervention group. The intervention group trained for 30 seconds per position at 35Hz frequency, 8mm displacement in the first 2 weeks, and 40 seconds at 40Hz for the final two weeks whilst the control group carried out the same exercises but without vibration stimulation. A significant (p<0.01) difference in the intervention group was noted over time for vertical jump and active ROM. No significant changes over time were noted for the anthropometric data. In conclusion WBV can be used as a beneficial supplemental training intervention to increase jump and active flexibility in highly trained dancers without corresponding increases in relative anthropometric data.Response to Reviewers: JSCR-08-1377, entitled "The effect of Whole Body Vibration on jump height and active range of movement in female dancers" Reviewer #1:Interesting paper. Some brief questions for consideration. How did you determine time (sec) at each position on the platform? Was this based on previous literature? Au: yes this was based on previous literature and the references have now been provided. Also how did you determine what frequency (Hz) to set the platform at? Again, was this a collaborative decision or based on previous literature? Au: yes this was based on previous literature and the references have now been provided. Pictures of the positions (the ones performed on the platform) would be helpful and add conceptualization to the article. Also, the exercises used (positions) on the platform seem understandably chosen, but adding why you choose those specific positions would be relevant. Au: this detail has now been added.
Reviewer 2The introduction while interesting should be clear and concise and be hypothesis driven to allow the reader to see the basis of your hypothesis. I do not get the time frame for adaptation is this all neural and warm up? Au: the introduction has been re-written to be more clear and concise. The reason for the time frame is that shorter intervention periods are rarely looked at especially in trained individuals and we have seen significant improvements from WBV using 4 week interventions on FAI subjects in previously published research. The concept of neural adaptation is only applicable to untrained subjects for initial adaptations to "strength" training.Why is this study important to the literature and what was the major question that lead to the study and how would it impact practice if published. Au: a lot of previous studies have assumed that all interventions should be 6 weeks and 3 x a week without challenging this concept -hence our use of 4 weeks at 2 x a week. Also a lot of previous research has used sedentary or untrained ...