Effect of 6 weeks of whole body vibration training on total and segmental body composition in healthy young adults.

The applied use of new technologies to enhance performance and improve health has been increasing. Initially, whole body vibration training (WBVT) was used as system to improve elite athlete performance. However, this is also used to improve body composition, especially there is a great attention on the effectiveness of WBVT to reduce fat and body weight, with a potential increase in muscle tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 6-week vibration-training program on total and segmental body composition in a group of physically healthy participants. The final study sample included 64 healthy young adults. Subjects were randomly allocated into the control group (CG: n = 26; 16 males and 10 females) and the experimental group (EGWBVT: n = 38; 19 males and 19 females). The program lasted six weeks with a frequency of three sessions per week and each session varied in intensity. There were not found statistically significant differences in any of the body composition variables analysed. This study suggests that a six-week vibration-training program with an increasing intensity (7.2 g-32.6 g) in healthy young adults that are not overweight did not alter total and segmental body composition.

Effect of combined electrostimulation and plyometric training on 30 meters dash and triple jump.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to analyze the effects of training combining plyometrics (PT) and neuromuscular electrostimulation (ES) on speed training and triple jump. The study consisted on the application of an electrostimulation protocol and plyometric jumps to four groups of young athletes (Control, G II, G III and G IV). METHODS: Eighty-four young athletes took part in the study (40 girls and 44 boys). All of them were sprinters (100 and 200 meters dash, and 100 and 110 hurdles meters), their mean age, weight and height being 15.9±1.4 years old, 58.53±8.05 kg, and 1.68±0.07 m, respectively. After 8 weeks of training, a 30-meter sprint launched test -time being measured by photoelectric cells - and a triple jump test from static position were completed. Repeated measures ANCOVA were used. RESULTS: The only group that improved significantly in the speed test (P<0.001) relative to the control group was G IV. In the triple jump test, improvements were significant, (P<0.05) and (P<0.01), in G II and G IV, respectively, relative to the control group. The results of ES + PT combined training offered no significant differences in either speed test and triple jump by gender. CONCLUSION: The most effective training aimed at improving the speed of 30 m is simultaneous combined training. Regarding triple jump, the results showed significant improvements in the performance of athletes who used both simultaneous combined training and used ES followed by plyometrics. However, no significant improvement was observed after PT training prior to ES.