Whole Body Vibration Increases Subsequent Sprint Performance in Well-Trained Cyclists.

PURPOSE: Postactivation potentiation (PAP) exercise with added whole-body vibration (WBV) has been suggested as a potential way to acutely improve sprint performance. In cycling, there are many competitions and situations where sprinting abilities are important. In the present study we investigated the effect of adding WBV to warm-up procedures on subsequent cycle sprint performance.

METHODS: Eleven well-trained cyclists participated in the study. All cyclists performed a familiarization session before two separate test sessions in randomized order. Each session included a standardized warm-up followed by one of the following preconditioning exercises; 30 s of half-squats without WBV or 30 s of half-squats with WBV at 40 Hz. A 15 s Wingate sprint was performed one minute after the preconditioning exercise.

RESULTS: Performing preconditioning exercise with WBV at 40 Hz resulted in superior peak power output compared to preconditioning exercise without WBV (1413±257 W vs. 1353±213 W, p=0.04) and a tendency towards superior mean power output during a 15 s all-out sprint (850±119 W vs. 828±101 W, p=0.08). Effect sizes showed a moderate practical effect of WBV vs. no WBV on both peak and mean power output.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, preconditioning exercise performed with WBV at 40 Hz seems to have a positive effect on cycling sprint performance in young well-trained cyclists. This suggests that athletes can incorporate body-loaded squats with WBV into preparations to specific sprint training to improve the quality of the sprint training and also in order to improve sprint performance in relevant competitions.

KEYWORDS: Cycling performance; neuromuscular; postactivation potentiation; speed training; warm-up

PMID: 27967282 DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2016-0428