Whole-body vibration on lower limb flexibility and extensibility – a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Introduction and aim. The whole-body vibration has become known for optimizing the production of muscle power due to mechanical oscillations that are dependent on vibration frequency. However, the effects of varying the vibration frequency on flexibility have still been little explored. Compare the effects of two frequencies of whole-body vibration on flexibility and extensibility of the lower limbs. Material and methods. Randomized clinical trial with a sample of 42 young adult volunteers of both sexes, who performed squatting sessions with individualized load on a platform and distributed into three groups of vibration frequency: control group (CG), with the platform off; low frequency group (LF), with a frequency of 30 Hz; high frequency group (HF), with a frequency of 45 Hz. In total, the intervention was carried out in 12 sessions and lasted 6 weeks, with 2 sessions per week. Flexibility, evaluated before and after the intervention by the sit and reach test (Wells bench) and by evaluating the extensibility of the ischiotibials by goniometry. Results. No statistical differences were observed for any of the outcomes evaluated. Conclusion. None of the proposed frequencies produced gains in flexibility and extensibility of the lower extremities and there was no superiority of one frequency over another.