Hum Mov Sci, 2018; 60(): 191-201, PMID: 29957423

Acute whole-body vibration increases reciprocal inhibition.

Year: 2018

Ritzmann R, Krause A, Freyler K, Gollhofer A
Department of Sports and Sports Science, University of Freiburg, Schwarzwaldstrasse 175, 79117 Freiburg, Germany.

Abstract

Based on previous evidence that whole-body vibration (WBV) affects pathways involved in disynaptic reciprocal inhibition (DRI), the present hypothesis-driven experiment aimed to assess the acute effects of WBV on DRI and co-contraction. DRI from ankle dorsiflexors to plantar flexors was investigated during submaximal dorsiflexion before and after 1min of WBV. With electromyography, musculus soleus (SOL) H-reflex depression following a conditioning stimulation of the peroneal nerve (1.1x motor threshold for the musculus tibialis anterior, TA) was assessed and co-contraction was calculated. After WBV, DRI was significantly increased (+4%, p<0.05). SOL (-13%, p<0.05) and TA (-6%, p<0.05) activities were significantly reduced; co-contraction tended to be diminished (-8%, p=0.05). Dorsiflexion torque remained unchanged. After WBV, DRI increased during submaximal isometric contraction in healthy subjects. The simultaneous SOL relaxation and TA contraction indicate that a more economic movement execution is of functional significance for WBV application in clinical and athletic treatment.

Keywords: movement efficiency, msucel activation, EMG, H-Reflex
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