Int J Sports Med 2002; 23(6): 428-432
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-33739
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Oxygen Uptake in Whole-Body Vibration Exercise: Influence of Vibration Frequency, Amplitude, and External Load

J.  Rittweger1, 2 , J.  Ehrig2 , K.  Just2 , M.  Mutschelknauss2 , K.  A.  Kirsch1 , D.  Felsenberg2
  • 1Institut für Physiologie, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
  • 2Center of Muscle and Bone Research, University Hospital Benjamin Franklin, Freie Universität Berlin, 12200 Berlin, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: November 15, 2001

Publication Date:
05 September 2002 (online)

Abstract

Vibration exercise (VbX) is a new type of physical training to increase muscle power. The present study was designed to assess the influence of whole-body VbX on metabolic power. Specific oxygen uptake (sV˙O2) was assessed, testing the hypotheses that sV˙O2 increases with the frequency of vibration (tested in 10 males) and with the amplitude (tested in 8 males), and that the VbX-related increase in sV˙O2 is enhanced by increased muscle force (tested in 8 males). With a vibration amplitude of 5 mm, a linear increase in sV˙O2 was found from frequencies 18 to 34 Hz (p < 0.01). Each vibration cycle evoked an oxygen consumption of approximately 2.5 µl × kg-1. At a vibration frequency of 26 Hz, sV˙O2 increased more than proportionally with amplitudes from 2.5 to 7.5 mm. With an additional load of 40 % of the lean body mass attached to the waist, sV˙O2 likewise increased significantly. A further increase was observed when the load was applied to the shoulders. The present findings indicate that metabolic power in whole-body VbX can be parametrically controlled by frequency and amplitude, and by application of additional loads. These results further substantiate the view that VbX enhances muscular metabolic power, and thus muscle activity.

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J. Rittweger

Institut für Physiologie

14195 Berlin ·Germany ·

Phone: 0049 (30) 8445 1696

Fax: 0049 (30) 8445 1602

Email: ritmus@zedat.fu-berlin.de

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