Vibration reduces the tensor fasciae latae and iliotibial band hardness

The iliotibial band (ITB) – a high-density fibrous connective tissue that begins with the tensor fasciae latae (TFL), part of the gluteal muscle and iliac crest, and covers the hip and knee joints. Inflammation of ITB as a result of excessive training can cause injuries in athletes or military who often repeat the same movements. The increased risk of chronic ITB inflammation is influenced by the increase in its hardness, gained after training. This risk is considered high as the increase in ITB hardness after exercise persists for up to 24 hours. Since therapeutic vibration was found to be effective in improving muscle strength, performance as well as flexibility, researchers at the University of Hiroshima (Japan) asked whether vibration stimulation, administered locally to TFL and ITB immediately after exercise, would affect the hardness of these structures.

• Local vibrations (5 min, 50 Hz) after exercise, significantly diminished evoked by this exercise hardness of both ITB (fig. 1) and TFL.

Prepared on the basis of:

The transition of tensor fasciae latae and iliotibial band hardness after hip abduction exercise and the effect of vibration stimulation. Shogo Tsutsumi, Yukio Urabe, Noriaki Maeda. Japanese Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine, 2018;67(3):219-225

Study population

Nine healthy men (age 22.8 ± 1.1 years, height 171.2 ± 0.1 cm, weight 62.3 ± 6.3 kg) without orthopedic diseases of the lower limbs participated in the study. The dominant limb was the measured limb – the right limb in all subjects.

Test procedure

The men performed repetitive hip abduction exercise (RE) in a recumbent position on their left side, supported by the elbow, in 20 repetitions × 5 series. There was a 30-second rest between sets. About 3% of the body weight was applied to the exercised leg in order to obtain sufficient contraction of the TFL muscle. The hardness of TFL and ITB was measured with a digital NEUTONE (TRY-ALL) hardness tester in the relaxed state, immediately before the RE and immediately after the end of the RE, as well as 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 24 hours later.

In order to compare the change in hardness after RE caused by rest alone or vibration stimulation, each participant performed the same procedure twice with an interval of at least 4 weeks: without vibration or with vibration added immediately after RE (given for 5 min).

Use of vibration in the study

A SONIX (Sonic World) vibrating platform was used for vibrational stimulation. The vibrations were applied locally to relaxed TFL and ITB: lying on the side of the body, the external side of the right thigh was placed on the platform, with the elbow on the floor supporting balance. The vibration delivery time was 5 minutes and the vibration frequency was 50 Hz.

Results

No vibration

In the variant of the test without vibration, the hardness of TFL immediately before the RE, immediately after the end of the RE and 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 24 hours later was 0.75 ± 0.10 N, 0.98 ± 0.07 N, 0.91 ± 0.06 N, 0.88 ± 0.07 N, 0.92 ± 0.04 N, respectively. Thus, it increased from the initial measurement in the range from 17.3% to 30.7%.

In the variant of the test without vibration, the hardness of ITB immediately before the RE, immediately after the end of the RE and 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 24 hours later was 0.98 ± 0.08 N, 1.24 ± 0.12 N, 1.13 ± 0.11 N, 1.10 ± 0.12 N, 1.12 ± 0.10 N (Fig. 1), respectively. Thus, it increased compared to the initial measurements from 12.2% to 26.5%.

With the use of vibrotherapy in the form of local vibrations

After vibration stimulation, a statistically significant (p <0.05) relative reduction in the hardness of the examined structures was obtained.

In the variant of the vibration test, the TFL hardness immediately before the RE, immediately after the end of the RE and 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 24 hours later was 0.74 ± 0.04 N, 0.97 ± 0.07 N, 0.82 ± 0.05 N, 0.79 ± 0.05 N, 0.78 ± 0.05 N, respectively. Thus, it increased from the initial measurement in the range from 5.4% to 31.1%.

In the variant of the vibration test, the hardness of ITB immediately before the RE, immediately after the end of the RE and 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 24 hours later was 0.96 ± 0.09 N, 1.22 ± 0.10 N, 1.04 ± 0.12 N, 1.01 ± 0.11 N, 1.00 ± 0.11 N, respectively. Thus, it increased compared to the initial measurements ranging from 4.2% to 27.1%.

Comment

The presented research shows that ITB hardness increases after exercise, carrying the risk of developing inflammation and damaging pain, excluding the limb from physical activity. Short-term (5 minutes) administration of local vibrations immediately after training prevents the increase of ITB hardness.

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