Acute Effects of Passive Stretching with and Without Vibration on Hip Range of Motion, Temperature, and Stiffness Parameters in Male Elite Athletes.

Abstract

Objectives: Increasing exercise intensity and performance output with superimposed vibration gains interest, especially in high-performance training. However, the additional benefit of vibration in passive stretching exercises and its mechanisms remain unclarified. Methods: Passive stretching with (ST+V) and without (ST) vibration (20 Hz) was performed in male Olympic youth skiing athletes (n = 8, age: 17.9 ± 1.0 years) using a single-blinded randomized cross-over design. Acute hip abduction, hip anteversion, knee extension, and hamstrings (stand and reach straight leg raise) range of motion (ROM) were assessed using a digital goniometer, while stiffness was examined via MyotonPRO. The skin temperature of the whole leg was captured with infrared thermography and analyzed in different segments. Results: Both stretching interventions increased ROM compared to the control group (CG) (p < 0.001-0.033, d = 1.0-1.6) without differences between ST+V and ST (p = 0.202-0.999). While skin temperature decreased in the CG and ST, ST+V maintained a constant temperature in the lower legs. Stiffness was not affected by both stretching interventions. Conclusions: The stretching intervention leads to significant increases in flexibility, while additional vibration did not further enhance the ROM.