The Acute Effects of Different Whole-Body Vibration Amplitudes and Frequencies on Heart Rate

Abstract

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a new type of exercise that has been emerged in sports training and
rehabilitation during the last decade. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of amplitude and frequency of a single bout of WBV, using side-to-side alternating vertical sinusoidal vibration, on heart rate. In the amplitude study, twenty females performed three vibration protocols (VPs) for 6 min at frequency of 25Hz and amplitudes of 4, 6, and 8mm and one control protocol (CP). In the frequency study, twenty females performed four VPs at 6mm amplitude and frequencies of 15, 20, 25, and 30Hz and one CP. All protocols were performed on a side-to-side alternating vibration plate. Heart rate was measured before and immediately post. A two-Way analysis of variance (group x time) with repeated measures on both factors and Tukey’s post-hoc analysis were used to analyze the data. In the amplitude study, HR increased (p<.01) immediately-post in VP4, VP6, VP8, CP (32.93, 48.64, 64.58, 23.35%, respectively) vs. previbration. In the frequency study, HR increased (p<.01) immediately-post in VP15, VP20, VP25, VP30, CP (36.72, 41.57, 54.39, 53.68, 41.11%, respectively) vs. pre-vibration. In conclusion, a single WBV bout using a side-to-side alternating vibration plate may increase heart rate of young women. There were significant effects of amplitude and frequency on HR. The larger amplitude was associated with higher heart rate, whereas the frequency was found to be effective above 25Hz. VPs using loading parameters of 8mm amplitude and 25-30Hz frequency resulted in the greatest HR increase of young women.