THE EFFECT OF WARM-UP WITH WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION VS. CYCLE ERGOMETRY ON ISOKINETIC DYNAMOMETRY

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of warm-up protocols using either whole-body vibration (WBV) or cycle ergometry (CE) on peak torque at 3 different isokinetic speeds and on fatigue in the knee extension exercise. Twenty-seven recreationally trained (age = 23.59 +/- 3.87 years) men (n = 14) and women (n = 13) were tested at 3 different isokinetic speeds (60, 180, 300 degrees.s(-1)) after either WBV or CE warm-up. The WBV consisted of intermittent bouts of 30 seconds of isometric squats at various degrees of hip and knee flexion for a total of 5 minutes. The CE consisted of 5 minutes of pedaling a cycle ergometer at 65-85% of age-predicted max heart rate. Comparisons between the warm-up conditions were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. For the fatigue comparison, subjects completed 50 continuous concentric knee extensions at 240 degrees.s(-1). Means from the first 3 repetitions were compared to means from the final 3 repetitions to establish a fatigue index. Conditions were compared through an independent T-test. No significant (p > 0.05) differences were discovered between warm-up conditions at any speed or on the fatigue index. Means were virtually identical at 60 degrees.s(-1) (WBV = 142.14 +/- 43.61 ft lb(-1); CE = 140.64 +/- 42.72 ft lb(-1)), 180 degrees.s(-1) (WBV = 93.88 +/- 35.18 ft lb(-1); CE = 96.36 +/- 31.53 ft lb(-1)), and 300 degrees.s(-1) (WBV = 78.36 +/- 26.04 ft lb(-1); CE = 80.13 +/- 26.08), and on fatigue percentage (WBV = 51.14 +/- 10.06%; CE = 52.96 6 9.19%). These data suggest that the more traditional 5-minute cycle ergometer warm-up elicits results comparable to a less common vibration warm-up. The findings of this study are that these modalities are comparable under the tested conditions.