Over the past 15 years, some amazing research has shown that when a contracted muscle is vibrated at a specific frequency and intensity, it can produce long-term changes in athletic performance and balance. In an interesting study of competitive volleyball players, Brunetti et al. (1) show that the application of just 3 sessions of focal muscle vibration (FMV) applied bilaterally over contracted quadriceps muscles produced a 26% increase in muscle power and 13% increase in counter movement jump height. Even more surprising, these changes persisted for more than 6 months. The increase in power was nearly 3 times the increase in the control group, even though athletes all followed the same team-training protocols. Additional research shows that FMV reduces fatigue while exercising (2), increases the speed in which a muscle generates force (3), increases maximum muscular power by 30% in young people (4) and up to
50% in older adults (5). Although the exact mechanism for improved performance remains unclear, most experts agree that FMV enhances output from muscle spindles, which in turn improves the synchronization and coordination between agonist and antagonist muscles producing smoother more efficient joint/muscle interactions (6). Because spindles interact with so many movement-related interneurons, including spinocerebellar neurons, FMV has the ability to modify motor activity throughout the body, not just in the treated limb. Studies using transcranial magnetic resonance have shown that applying FMV to a contracted muscle causes a significant rearrangement of the motor cortex (7, 8), which is comparable to the cortical remodeling associated with traditional long-term training programs.
These changes are not present when FMV is applied to a relaxed muscle.
In their 2021 systematic review of focal muscle vibration, Fattorini et al. (6) state the best outcomes occur when the muscle being vibrated is isometrically contracted. Apparently, the isometric contraction increases muscle stiffness, which in turn, increases the depth of penetration
of the vibratory stimulus. This is consistent with research showing that the vast majority of spindles exist deep inside of muscles (9), explaining the better outcomes with the deeper vibratory transmissions associated with mild isometric contractions.
This video reviews how focal muscle vibration can be applied to almost any muscle in the body, making it a safe and effective treatment not just for improving athletic performance, but also for improving balance and preventing falls in the elderly.
Intro 0:00
What is Focal Muscle Vibration? 0:24
Applying the Motor to the Targeted Muscle 2:35
Isometrically Contracting the Muscle 3:32
10 Minutes, Rest, and Repeat X3 4:21
The Importance of Rehab 5:45
Stimulating Quads Bilaterally with the Dual Motors 6:45
Illustrations of Various Muscles to Target with FMV 9:36
1. Brunetti O, et al. Focal vibration of quadriceps muscle enhances leg power and decreases knee joint laxity in female volleyball players. The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 2012 Dec 1;52:596-605.
2. Casale R, Ring H, Rainoldi A. High frequency vibration conditioning stimulation centrally reduces myoelectrical manifestation of fatigue in healthy subjects. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2009;19:998-1004.
3. Fattorini L. et al. Motor performance changes induced by muscle vibration. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2006;98:79-87.
4. Iodice P, et al. Acute and cumulative effects of focused high-frequency vibrations on the endocrine system and muscle strength. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2011;111:897-904.
5. Pietrangelo T. Et al. Effects of local vibrations on skeletal muscle trophism in elderly people: Mechanical, cellular, and molecular events. Int J Mol Med . 2009 , 24 , 503-512.
6. Fattorini L, Rodio A, Pettorossi V, Filippi G. Is the focal muscle vibration an effective motor conditioning intervention? A systematic review. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2021 Apr 28;6:39.
7. Marconi, B. Filippi, G, Koch, G.; et al. Long-term effects on motor cortical excitability induced by repeated muscle vibration during contraction in healthy subjects. J Neurol Sci. 2008;275 , 51-59.
8. Marconi, B. Filippi, G, Koch, G, Get al. Long-term effects on cortical excitability and motor recovery induced by repeated muscle vibration in chronic stroke patients. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2011;25:48-60.
9. Kokkorogiannis T. Somatic and intramuscular distribution of muscle spindles and their relation to muscular angiotypes. Journal of Theoretical Biology . 2004 Jul 21;229:263-80.