Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University

Title

Vibration and Stretching Effects on Flexibility and Explosive Strength in Young Gymnasts

Creator(s)

Ann M. Kinser, East Tenneessee State University
Michael W. Ramsey, East Tennessee State UniversityFollow
Harold S. O'Bryant, Appalachian State University
Christopher A. Ayres, East Tennessee State University
William A. Sands, East Tennessee State University
Michael H. Stone, East Tennessee State UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2008

Description

Purpose:
Effects of simultaneous vibration-stretching on flexibility and explosive strength in competitive female gymnasts were examined.

Methods:
Twenty-two female athletes (age = 11.3 ± 2.6 yr; body mass = 35.3 ± 11.6 kg; competitive levels = 3-9) composed the simultaneous vibration-stretching (VS) group, which performed both tests. Flexibility testing control groups were stretching-only (SF) (N = 7) and vibration-only (VF) (N = 8). Explosive strength-control groups were stretching-only (SES) (N = 8) and vibration-only (VES) (N = 7). Vibration (30 Hz, 2-mm displacement) was applied to four sites, four times for 10 s, with 5 s of rest in between. Right and left forward-split (RFS and LFS) flexibility was measured by the distance between the ground and the anterior suprailiac spine. A force plate (sampling rate, 1000 Hz) recorded countermovement and static jump characteristics. Explosive strength variables included flight time, jump height, peak force, instantaneous forces, and rates of force development. Data were analyzed using Bonferroni adjusted paired t-tests.

Results:
VS had statistically increased flexibility (P) and large effect sizes (d) in both the RFS (P = 1.28 × 10−7, d = 0.67) and LFS (P = 2.35 × 10−7, d = 0.72). VS had statistically different results of favored (FL) (P = 4.67 × 10−8, d= 0.78) and nonfavored (NFL) (P = 7.97 × 10−10, d = 0.65) legs. VF resulted in statistical increases in flexibility and medium d on RFS (P = 6.98 × 10−3, d = 0.25) and statistically increased flexibility on VF NFL flexibility (P = 0.002, d = 0.31). SF had no statistical difference between measures and small d. For explosive strength, there were no statistical differences in variables in the VS, SES, and VES for the pre- versus posttreatment tests.

Conclusions:
Simultaneous vibration and stretching may greatly increase flexibility while not altering explosive strength.

Citation Information

Kinser, Ann M.; Ramsey, Michael W.; O'Bryant, Harold S.; Ayres, Christopher A.; Sands, William A.; and Stone, Michael H.. 2008. Vibration and Stretching Effects on Flexibility and Explosive Strength in Young Gymnasts. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Vol.40(1). 133-140. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b013e3181586b13 ISSN: 0195-9131