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. 2016 Dec 14;16(4):327-338.

Acute corticospinal and spinal modulation after whole body vibration

A Krause  1 , A Gollhofer, K Freyler, L Jablonka, R Ritzmann
Affiliations

Acute corticospinal and spinal modulation after whole body vibration

A Krause et al. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. .

Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate neural effects of acute whole body vibration (WBV) on lower limb muscles regarding corticospinal and spinal excitability.

Methods: In 44 healthy subjects (16 f/ 28 m), motor evoked potentials (MEP) and H-reflexes in m. soleus (SOL) and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) were elicited before (t1), immediately after (t2), 2 (t3), 4 (t4) and 10 min after (t5) WBV.

Results: After WBV, MEP amplitudes were significantly increased in SOL (t2+15±30%, t3+22±32%, t4+15±35%, t5+20±30%, P<0.05), but not in GM (t2+32±62%, t3+9±35%, t4+8±36%, t5+22±47%; P=0.07). Contrarily, H-reflexes were significantly reduced in SOL (t2-19±28%, t3-21±22%, t4-20±21%, t5-14±28%, P<0.05) and GM (t2-14±37%, t3-16±25%, t4-18±29%, t5-16±28%, P<0.05).

Conclusions: A temporary sustained enhancement of corticospinal excitability concomitant with spinal inhibition after WBV points towards persisting neural modulation in the central nervous system. This could indicate greater neural modulation over M1 and descending pathways, while the contribution of spinal pathways is reduced.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study design of one protocol. Stimulation (STIM) marks either Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) or Transcranial Nerve Stimulation (TMS) stimulation before (t0 & t1), directly after (t2) as well as 2 (t3), 4 (t4) and 10 min after 1 min bout of whole body vibration (t5).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Peak-to-Peak amplitude values of soleus MEP- and H-reflex-stimulation for both protocols for one representative subject (a) and as averaged means±standard deviations (b). Data are presented as differences compared to baseline values (t1), protocol 1 is illustrated in dark columns, protocol 2 in light columns. Significant results (P<0.05) are marked with *.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Averaged mean values±standard deviations of EMG (SOL, GM, TA) and kinematic data (ankle & knee joint angles) of both protocols for the respective time point (t0-t5). Values from protocol 1 (MEP) are illustrated with triangles, those from protocol 2 (H-reflex) with squares. ICCs are presented by means of Cronbachs α for each muscle, joint and for both protocols.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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