Acute effect of upper body vibration on shoulder joint internal and external active position sense in healthy female university students

Abstract

Background and Study Aim. Neuromuscular and joint deep sensation adaptations have been linked to functional alterations and skill acquisition after body vibration training via muscular recruitment, coordination of motor units, and enhanced neural activation. The aim of the current study is to explore the effect of upper body vibration on shoulder joint active position sense in healthy female university students. Material and Methods. Sixty healthy female university students were distributed into two equal groups; 30 subjects in the control group (mean age 21 ± 2.2) and 30 subjects in the experimental group (mean age 20.9 ± 2.3). The shoulder joint active position sense was evaluated using Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer Multi-Joint System 4 pro. In addition, the Power Plate ® Whole Body Vibration device was used as an intervention method from the push-up position. Results. After three vibration exposures of 60 seconds for each, the MANOVA test showed statistically significant differences in the average error scores of active joint position senses of shoulder external rotation only in the pre-post-test of the experimental group (p= .000). Moreover, the statistically significant difference was detected in the average error scores of shoulders external rotation in post-treatment intervention between both groups (p= .000). Conclusions. These results suggested that short-term vibration training may reveal an improvement in shoulder joint active position sense, particularly the shoulder external rotation. The use of vibration training to improve shoulder awareness and reduce the risk of injury when the shoulder externally rotates during different functions may therefore be advocated to physiotherapists.