Whole-Body Vibration While Squatting and Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness in Women

Abstract

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 wholebody 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 ¼ 16; age ¼ 21.0 6 1.9 years, height ¼ 164.86 6 6.73 cm, mass ¼ 58.58 6 9.32 kg) or a control group (n ¼ 14; age ¼ 22.00 6 1.97 years, height ¼ 166.65 6 8.04 cm, mass ¼ 58.69 6 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 ¼ .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 ¼ .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.Key Words: range of motion, edema, pressure-pain threshold Key PointsExposure to whole-body vibration did not effectively manage delayed-onset muscle soreness after high-intensity exercise in healthy, recreationally trained women. Researchers should study treatments to alleviate muscle pain in various populations.

Does vibration benefit delayed-onset muscle soreness?: a meta-analysis and systematic review

“…Additionally, the pressure pain threshold (PPT) is frequently used as an index for rating the intensity of muscle pain, 49 but differences in the units used to measure PPT in the current literature meant that it could not be used in the current analysis. For example, PPT was recorded in N, 8 Kpa, 15 or kg/cm, 40 and varied in numerical values at different ranges and locations. [41][42][43] Furthermore, the range of motion was explored in different joints, including the knee in two studies 15,36 and the elbow in one.…”

“…24,25 Furthermore, some studies only presented the mean and standard deviation in figures, and no further information was obtained by attempted correspondence with the authors. 5,15,16,[26][27][28][29][30][31] Five studies did not include information on VAS (primary outcome) or CK (secondary outcome), 2,[31][32][33][34] and only one trial demonstrated the magnitudes of changes in VAS and CK. 17 One abstract was deemed to be too low quality, with confusion between the groups and a lack of units for CK levels.…”

“…12,13 However, the efficacy of vibration for DOMS remains controversial. Two studies reported that vibration therapy was no more effective than massage or placebo in patients with DOMS, 14,15 while other studies found that vibration promoted the recovery of DOMS and relieved pain. 2,16,17 A previous review in 2012 indicated that WBV had potential beneficial effects for muscle recovery after exercise.…”

The Effects of Exercise Induced Muscle Damage on Knee Joint Torque and Balance Performance

“…During the split squat, the back leg was placed on a padded bench for support and the knee was placed into 90° of flexion, allowing focus on single leg performance of the front leg. We provided assistance on the concentric phase after the participants reached 90° of knee flexion of the front knee on the exercising leg, allowing greater focus on the eccentric phase [ 26 , 27 ]. Immediately following EIMD protocol, participants were re-assessed for balance and torque measurements.…”

Advances in Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) – Part II: Treatment and Prevention

“…First, (whole body-) vibration therapy, which is often been considered as potentially enhancing neuromuscular performance in athletes has been described in several studies to show beneficial effects in alleviating symptoms of DOMS [63]. Otherwise, Dabbs et al concluded in a randomized controlled trail with 30 healthy, recreationally trained women, that exposure to whole-body vibration did not effectively manage DOMS after high-intensity exercise [64]. Second, therapeutic ultrasound (TU) is controversially discussed.…”