Vibratory training

Edited by: Luca Giovanni Bottoni

The vibratory training system, born on the basis of aerospace experiences, has jumped to the headlines in recent years, in a capillary manner. To date, there are numerous studies concerning the possible positive effects of Vibratory Training (AV) on performance. the AV is able to induce adaptive hormonal responses, specifically an AV session causes an increase in the concentration of testosterone (T) and somatotropic hormone (GH) together with a decrease in the concentration of cortisol (C) (Bosco e coll., 2000).

The increase in T and GH is due to the action of the muscle metaboreceptors (Kjaer, 1992), while the decrease in C is probably due to an insufficient stimulatory effect of the central motor command and of the nervous feedback at the level of the skeletal musculature ( Knigge and Hays, 1963; Bosco et al., 2000). It would therefore seem that the AV, if properly reiterated, could induce stable hormonal adaptations that would testify to an equally stable adaptation, in terms of improvements, of the neuromuscular function (Bosco and coll., 2000).

The proposals on the market are really many and wide, both as a direct sale of the tool to the public and sale of the service, supervised by a Personal Trainer. The second, which from my point of view is that which I would recommend to all those who intend to approach Whole Body Vibration, makes use of a qualified person who exercises his profession on the platform, therefore qualitatively valid. The first encounter with the vibrating platform is normally crowned by the compilation of a medical history, for a global evaluation of the customer, before subjecting it to vibrations. Power Plate ® has compiled a list "in continuous evolution, due to the growing studies" of contraindications to keep in mind before starting to train in such a way as to be able to exercise safely. Acceleration TrainingT with Power Plate® machines generates instability in the human body because, with each vibration, the body is forced to react with involuntary muscle actions, 25 to 50 times per second. Furthermore, these contractions must act in multiple dimensions because the machines actually oscillate on all three planes, precisely in the way the human body is structured.

Performing the exercises is the limiting factor of this type of training. The optimal branching of the vibrations takes place on a perfectly vertical articular segment, while to avoid reaching the head it is essential to cure the joint angle, which acts as a damper. Avoid fully extending the joints during AV, so as to avoid the annoying resonance effect to the head. The lesson has an average duration of 20-25 min, with a pure vibration time of 12-15 min. interspersing training and breaks. The frequency of the sessions is subject to marked differences, to be evaluated with one's personal after an accurate analysis of the objective. On average we are not consequent on 3 times a week.

In the next article we will discuss in detail the AV customization on Power Plate®.

Have a good Vibration