Local WOC vibrotherapy prevents muscle damage after prolonged training

Prolonged exercise can damage muscles, resulting in pain, swelling and reduced strength. It has been previously shown that whole-body vibration therapy, applied in a standing position on a vibration platform, improves muscle regeneration. In this study, scientists from the University of Physical Education in Kraków (Poland) decided to test the effect of a milder form of vibrotherapy, administered in a relaxed sitting position, on muscle regeneration after prolonged exercise – oscillatory-cycloid vibrotherapy (wibroterapia oscylacyjno cykloidalna, WOC, Vitberg, Poland). Scientists assumed that WOC, thanks to increased vascular flow and improved tissue drainage, would lower the markers of muscle damage in the blood: myoglobin (Mb), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH).

• As shown in Fig. 1, after 1 hour of recovery session, with WOC (W) or placebo (control group, C) turned on, the mean concentration of Mb and the activities of CK and LDH remained at a higher levels compared to the baseline values (before exercise), but in the W these levels were much lower than in C.
• 24 hours after the end of the exercise, a significant decrease in Mb concentration and LDH activity was observed in the W, while the CK activity was still elevated, but these values ​​were significantly lower than in C.
• 24 hours after the end of exercise, the Mb concentration in W was similar to baseline values, while in group K it was still elevated.

Prepared on the basis of:

Local Vibration Reduces Muscle Damage after Prolonged Exercise in Men. Piotrowska A, Pilch W, Tota Ł, Maciejczyk M, Mucha D, Bigosińska M, Bujas P, Wiecha S, Sadowska-Krępa E, Pałka T. J Clin Med. 2021 Nov 22;10(22):5461.

Study population

The study involved 12 men of similar physical condition and daily physical activity, aged 21.7 ± 1.05 years, with peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak) of 46.12 ± 3.67 mL · kg-1 · min-1.

Test procedure

The research was carried out in the Laboratory of Vibrotherapy and the Central Scientific and Research Laboratory of the Laboratory of Physiological Basis of Adaptation of the University of Physical Education in Krakow in September-October 2019.

Before the actual experiment, the VO_2peak of the subjects (graded test up to volitional exhaustion) and the individual exercise load for long-term exercise were determined. The individual exercise load during the key experimental test (180 min of physical effort on a cycloergometer) was set on intensity of 50 ± 2% VO_2peak. After this effort, the subjects underwent active rest/ regeneration (60 minutes WOC, WOC group, W) or passive regeneration (60 minutes on a placebo machine without vibration, control group, C). Blood samples were taken immediately before the key exercise test and immediately after the 60-minute post-exercise rest session and 23 hours later, i.e. 24 hours after exercise. Mb levels as well as CK and LDH activity were analyzed by immunoenzymatic technique – ELISA on the E-LizaMat3000 apparatus (DRG Instruments Gmbh, Germany).

Use of vibration in the study

Participants subjected to WOC (group W) underwent a 60-minute vibration massage of the lower body in a reclining position after a key exercise test using a RAM Vitberg+ massage device (Vitberg, Poland; Fig. 2). Two 30-minute treatments were applied using the manufacturer’s predefined vibrotherapy program (Vitberg). The therapeutic stimulus was cycloidal vibrations directed in three perpendicular directions, with low amplitude (0.1–0.5 mm), low to medium frequency (20–52 Hz) and acceleration = 6.9–13.5 m/s2. A variable sequence of pulses was used, i.e. during the 60-minute treatment, the vibrations were interrupted for a few seconds at different values ​​of frequency, amplitude and acceleration. The RAM Vitberg+ device (currently updated and replaced with the Vitberg RS version) has the TUV Rheinland certificate (No. 0197) and the quality certificate for class IIa medical devices (No. HD60118119001).

Placebo treatments (group C) were performed on specially designed Vitberg+ placebo devices, which were identical to RAM Vitberg+ in terms of shape, appearance and equipment. Moreover, they generated the same beeps during the different phases of placebo treatment, but did not generate vibrations.

Fig. 2. Method of applying oscillatory-cycloid vibrotherapy (WOC) on the RAM Vitberg+ (Poland).

Results

Before the test exercise, the concentration of Mb and the activities of CK and LDH in C or W  did not differ from each other. As shown in Fig. 1, immediately after 1 h of the regeneration session, the mean values of the above biochemical indices increased significantly in relation to the baseline (before exercise) values in both groups, however in W to a lesser extent than in C. Similar differences were observed 24 h after the end of exercise. 24 hours after the end of exercise, a significant decrease in Mb concentration and LDH activity was observed in the W, while the CK activity was still elevated, but significantly less than in C, as was the LDH activity and Mb concentration. Twenty-four hours after exercise, Mb in W was similar to the baseline measurement, while it was still elevated in C.

Comment

Oscillatory-cycloid vibrotherapy (WOC) improved muscle regeneration after prolonged physical exertion, which was manifested by a decreased activity of CK and LDH and decreased concentration of Mb compared to the control group.

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