Effect of vibration on the regeneration of hand muscle function after induction of DOMS

Excessive work can damage muscles and cause delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). The power of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) is then diminished and it is believed that the reduced muscle strength is the most important and reliable indication of direct muscle damage in humans. The aim of the presented work by South Korean scientists was to investigate the effect of vibrational stimulation on the regeneration of MVIC reduced by DOMS and to determine the clinical potential of vibrational stimulation in this context.

• As shown in Fig. 1, vibration stimulation had a positive effect on MVIC power, lowered by DOMS.

Prepared on the basis of:

Effects of vibratory stimulations on maximal voluntary isometric contraction from delayed onset muscle soreness. Koh HW, Cho SH, Kim CY et al. J Phys Ther Sci. 2013 Sep;25(9):1093-5.

Study population

The study involved 60 healthy students aged 21.7 ± 2.2 years with no history of orthopedic or neurological diseases.

Test procedure

The subjects were assigned to the control group, the ultrasound treatment group or the vibration treatment group. Each participant had DOMS induced in the musculus extensor carpi radialis longus. The control group was untreated, while the ultrasound group was administered ultrasound for 10 minutes (intensity 1.0 W / cm2, frequency 1 MHz) to the non-dominant part of the long extensor muscle of the wrist, once a day for 3 consecutive days after DOMS induction. The vibration group received vibration stimulation (see below).

MVIC was measured immediately before and after DOMS induction and 24, 48 or 72 hours later.

Use of vibration in the study

As in the ultrasound group, vibration stimulation was administered for 10 minutes to the non-dominant extensor area of the long wrist, once a day for 3 consecutive days after DOMS induction.

A vibrating massager with a frequency of 20 Hz was used {in the abstract of the original work the authors give the value of 20 MHz, most probably by mistake – in the chapter “Methods” they indicate 20 Hz and usually such vibration frequencies are used in similar cases; however, they do not provide the vibration amplitude used; editorial note}.

Results

As shown in Fig. 1, MVIC decreased in all groups immediately after DOMS induction and in the following days. Statistical analysis revealed significant changes in MVIC on day 3 after induction of DOMS (p <0.05) in the vibration group compared to the control group in favor of the vibration group. There was no significant difference in MVIC values between the vibration and ultrasound treatments (p > 0.05).

Comment

Vibration stimulation accelerates the recovery of hand muscle function after induction of DOMS.

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