Skeletal Muscle and Performance

Int J Sports Med. 2011 Oct;32(10):781-7. doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1277215. Epub 2011 Aug 25

Combined Effects of Whole-Body Vibration, Resistance Exercise, and Vascular Occlusion on Skeletal Muscle and Performance

Item 1 , 2 , J. Denkinger 1 , P. Fontana 1 , 3 , M. Weber 4 , U. Boutellier 1 , 2 , M. Toigo 1 , 2 , 3

Affiliations

  1. Exercise Physiology, Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
  2. Institute of Physiology and Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
  3. Exersciences gmbh, Zurich, Switzerland
  4. Department of Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a new high-intensity training modality comprised of vibration exercise with superimposed resistance exercise and vascular occlusion (vibroX) on skeletal muscle and performance.

Method: Young untrained women were randomized to either train in a progressive mode on 3 days per week for 5 weeks ( n = 12) or to maintain a sedentary lifestyle ( n = 9).

Results: VibroX increased peak cycling power ( + 9 % , P = 0.001), endurance capacity ( + 57 %, P = 0.002), ventilatory threshold ( + 12 % , P < 0.001), and end-test torque( + 15 % , P = 0.002) relative to the sedentary group. Training load increased by 84.5 % ( P < 0.001) after vibroX. The increases were paralleled by increases in myosin heavy chain type 1 vastus lateralis muscle fiber cross-sectional area ( + 14 %, P = 0.031) and proportion ( + 17 % , P = 0.015), thigh lean mass    ( + 4 % , P = 0.001), capillary-to fiber ratio ( + 14 % , P = 0.003), and cytochrome c oxidase activity. Conversely, maximal values for oxygen consumption, cardiac output, isokinetic leg extension power and jumping power remained unaffected. Notably, vastus lateralis muscle adaptations were achieved with a very low weekly training volume.

Conclusion: We conclude that vibroX quickly increases muscle (fi ber) size, capillarization, and oxidative potential, and markedly augments endurance capacity in young women.