The Effects of Local Vibration: Introduction to Vibration Release Techniques

Local vibration, that is vibration directly applied to a muscle, was used in studies as early as the 1960s to investigate sensory afferents, reflexes, and motor response (1-6, 9, 12-13, 22, 40-41). Note, this paper has purposefully excluded whole-body and indirect vibration research. Hundreds of studies have been published investigating whole-body vibration training; however, the intent of such training, effects, and mechanisms involved may be different than local vibration.

Key Points for Practical Application

• Pre-exercise local vibration reduces signs and chemical markers of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and may improve performance in subsequent frequent workouts.
• Local vibration is effective for reducing acute muscle pain (and can be added to a home program via the devices like the Hypervolt by Hyperice® or similar devices).
• Local vibration alone may be sufficient to increase strength in deconditioned muscles/individuals.
• Current research implies that adding vibration to self-administered release techniques (SMR) (e.g. foam rolling) enhances benefits for DOMS, pain pressure sensitivity, and increasing proprioception. Further research is needed to refine protocols and determine whether adding vibration to SMR enhances benefits for increasing range of motion and improving power performance when used as a warm-up.

Summary of Receptor Response to Local Vibration

• Local vibration has been used to study sensory afferents and muscle response since the 1960s.
• Studies have demonstrated that high-frequency vibration preferentially stimulates type Ia sensory afferents (dynamic muscle spindle), and results in much less stimulation of type Ib sensory afferents (Golgi tendon organ) and type II afferents (static muscle spindle afferents).
• Research suggests that length, stretch, and increased tension in the muscle being vibrated increase the facilitation of receptors, including type Ib and type II afferents.
• Local vibration results in simultaneous agonist inhibition and tonic contraction (known as the tonic vibration reflex or TVR), and reciprocal inhibition of the functional antagonist.
• Local vibration may result in a reduction in muscle tone (H-reflex sensitivity) while potentiating the reactive component of stretch reflex (T-reflex) associated with the performance of sport and power activities such as running and jumping.
• Studies demonstrate that the CNS is involved in agonist tonic contraction, inhibition of antagonists, and kinesthesia resulting from local vibration.
• Studies imply that additional mechanoreceptors (Pacinian corpuscles, Ruffini endings, free nerve endings) play a significant role in motor control and muscle activity and that Pacinian corpuscles are the receptor most likely to respond to local vibration.

Local Vibration and Pain

• Pre-exercise local vibration may be protective, reducing swelling, improving range of motion, and decreasing pain associated with DOMS.
• Pre-exercise vibration attenuates chemical markers associated with DOMS including decreased CK, LDH, IL6, histamine, lymphocytes, and increased neutrophils.
• Direct application of vibration may have benefits for addressing acute muscle pain (and can be added to a home program via the Hypervolt or similar devices).

Local Vibration and Muscle Performance

• Local vibration alone may be sufficient to increase strength in deconditioned muscles/individuals.
• Pre-exercise local vibration improved muscle performance when exercise was performed on subsequent days (frequently).
• The application of pre-exercise local vibration should be limited to less than 10 minutes per muscle. (The Brookbush Institute protocols suggest 1 - 2 minutes per muscle and no more than 5 minutes)
• The application of local vibration during training may attenuate sub-maximal concentric strength and maximal power; however, the limited benefit, lack of residual effect, and practical issues with wearing vibration technology warrant further study before use in strength and performance settings can be recommended. (Reminder, this is a statement based on studies investigating the direct application of vibration to muscles being trained, and does not include whole-body vibration research)
• Currently, research implies that vibration added to foam rolling has a significant effect on DOMS, pain pressure sensitivity, and proprioception, and further research is needed to determine the effect on range of motion and power performance when used as a warm-up.
• The Brookbush Institute recommends that local vibration (vibration release techniques) is used prior to lengthening techniques; however, some studies suggest that there may be some benefit to incorporating local vibration while stretching.