TY - JOUR
T1 - Muscle focal vibration in healthy subjects: evaluation of the effects on upper limb motor performance measured using a robotic device
AU - Aprile, Irene
AU - Aprile, Irene Giovanna
AU - Di Sipio, Enrica
AU - Germanotta, Marco
AU - Simbolotti, Chiara
AU - Padua, Luca
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Purpose: Muscle vibration is a technique that applies a low-amplitude/high-frequency vibratory stimulus to a specific muscle using a mechanical device. The aim of this study was to evaluate, using robot-based outcomes, the effects of focal muscle vibration, at different frequencies, on the motor performance of the upper limb in healthy subjects. Methods: Forty-eight volunteer healthy subjects (age: 31 ± 8 years) were enrolled. Subjects were assigned to three different groups: the first group, in which subjects underwent muscle vibration treatment with a frequency of 100 Hz; the second group of subjects underwent the same treatment protocol, but using a frequency of vibration of 200 Hz; finally, the control group did not undergo any treatment. The robot-based evaluation session consisted of visually guided reaching task, performed in the sagittal plane. Results: Our results showed that the vibration treatment improved upper limb motor performance of healthy subjects from the baseline (T0) to 10 days after the end of the treatment (T2), but only the group treated with a frequency of 200 Hz reached statistical significance. Specifically, in this group we found an increase of the number of repetitions (T0: 51.4 ± 22.7; T2: 66.3 ± 11.8), and the smoothness of the movement, as showed by a decrease of the Normalized Jerk (T0: 10.5 ± 2.8; T2: 7.7 ± 0.5). Conclusion: The results of our study support the use of focal muscle vibration protocols in healthy subjects, to improve motor performance.
AB - Purpose: Muscle vibration is a technique that applies a low-amplitude/high-frequency vibratory stimulus to a specific muscle using a mechanical device. The aim of this study was to evaluate, using robot-based outcomes, the effects of focal muscle vibration, at different frequencies, on the motor performance of the upper limb in healthy subjects. Methods: Forty-eight volunteer healthy subjects (age: 31 ± 8 years) were enrolled. Subjects were assigned to three different groups: the first group, in which subjects underwent muscle vibration treatment with a frequency of 100 Hz; the second group of subjects underwent the same treatment protocol, but using a frequency of vibration of 200 Hz; finally, the control group did not undergo any treatment. The robot-based evaluation session consisted of visually guided reaching task, performed in the sagittal plane. Results: Our results showed that the vibration treatment improved upper limb motor performance of healthy subjects from the baseline (T0) to 10 days after the end of the treatment (T2), but only the group treated with a frequency of 200 Hz reached statistical significance. Specifically, in this group we found an increase of the number of repetitions (T0: 51.4 ± 22.7; T2: 66.3 ± 11.8), and the smoothness of the movement, as showed by a decrease of the Normalized Jerk (T0: 10.5 ± 2.8; T2: 7.7 ± 0.5). Conclusion: The results of our study support the use of focal muscle vibration protocols in healthy subjects, to improve motor performance.
KW - Healthy subjects
KW - Muscle focal vibration
KW - Reaching task
KW - Robot-mediated evaluation
KW - Healthy subjects
KW - Muscle focal vibration
KW - Reaching task
KW - Robot-mediated evaluation
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10807/77357
U2 - 10.1007/s00421-016-3330-1
DO - 10.1007/s00421-016-3330-1
M3 - Article
SN - 1439-6319
SP - 729
EP - 737
JO - European Journal of Applied Physiology
JF - European Journal of Applied Physiology
ER -