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Ankle flexors produce peak torque at longer muscle lengths after
whole-body vibration.
Kemertzis MA, Lythgo ND, Morgan DL, Galea MP.
Rehabilitation Sciences Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Erratum in:
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2009 Feb;41(2):482.
INTRODUCTION: Whole-body vibration (WBV) has become a popular training method in recent
years. This study investigated the effect of WBV on the length-tension relationship of the ankle
dorsi- and plantarflexors as measured by a Biodex dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems Inc,
Shirley, NY). METHODS: Twenty healthy young adult males participated in this study and were
exposed to two treatments. The first treatment (nonvibration) involved passive stretching of the
plantarflexors at end range of motion (ROM) for five 1-min bouts. The second treatment involved
the same passive stretch with superimposed WBV (frequency = 26 Hz) for five 1-min bouts on a
rotary vibration plate (Galileo 900; Novotec, Pforzheim, Germany). Voluntary ROM, peak torque, and
corresponding joint angle of the plantar- and dorsiflexors were recorded pre- and posttreatment.
Within-treatment (before and after) and between-treatment (WBV and nonvibration) outcomes were
assessed by repeated-measures MANOVA. RESULTS: No significant changes in the measures of
ankle dorsiflexion were found within or between treatments. No significant changes in the measures
of ankle plantarflexion were found after the nonvibration treatment. After WBV, however, there was
a significant 7.1 degree shift in the angle (P = 0.001) of peak plantarflexor torque production
corresponding to a longer muscle length.
CONCLUSION: This study shows that stretched human ankle plantarflexors respond to WBV by
generating peak voluntary torque at longer muscle lengths. This has possible benefits for the
rehabilitation of patients with neuromuscular disorders (e.g., stroke) who experience
short ankle flexor resting lengths.