Abstract des Autors

The effects of whole body vibrations on the mechanical behaviour of human skeletal muscles were studied in 14 physically active subjects randomly assigned to the experimental (E) or control (C) group. Group E was subjected to 5 sets of vertical sinusoidal vibrations lasting up to 2 min each, for 10 min daily, for a period of 10 days. The control subjects were requested to maintain their normal activity and to avoid strength or jumping training. The subjects were tested at the beginning and at the end of a treatment. The test consisted of specific jumping on a resistive platform. Marked, significant improvements were noted in Group E in the power output and height of the best jump (by 6.1 and 12%, respectively; P<0.05) and mean jump height in continuous jumping for 5 s (by 12%, P<0.01). In contrast, no significant variations were noted in Group C. It was suggested that the effect of whole body vibration elicited a fast biological adaptation associated with neural potentiation. Verf.-Referat