Muscle Vibration and Joint Position Sense

Acute Effects of Muscle Vibration on the Elbow Joint Position Sense in Healthy Young Men

The present study aimed to investigate and compare the acute effect of local vibration (63 Hz vs 42 Hz frequencies) on the biceps brachii muscles on the elbow joint position sense (JPS) in healthy young men. Forty-five healthy young men aged 19 to 30 years were enrolled in the study. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either 63 Hz (n=15) or 42 Hz (n=15) or sham vibration (control group) (n=15). Participants in the experimental group received five bouts of 1-minute of each vibration exposure localized to the biceps brachii muscle, with a 1-minute rest between the bouts. Active elbow joint position error (in degrees) was selected as an outcome measure to assess elbow JPS. To measure active elbow joint position error, the subject was made to sit on the chair with eyes closed and shoulders in 0 degree of abduction and elbows fully extended. The examiner passively moved the elbow to 90 degrees of flexion (target position) and maintained it for 10 seconds. The subject was requested to memorize the target position. The subject was asked to actively flex the elbow to the target position from the initial starting position (elbow fully extended) and hold it for 5 seconds. Three trials were conducted, with a 30-second rest given between each trial. The target and reproduced angles in each trial were measured using a standard plastic goniometer. The difference between the target and reproduced angles in each trial was calculated to determine active elbow joint position error. Measurements were taken at baseline and immediately after the vibration protocol.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Vibration; Exposure
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: 63 Hz Vibration; Other: 42 Hz Vibration; Other: Sham vibration

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 45
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Saudi Arabia
  • Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 11433
    • King Saud University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 19 years to 30 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy young men

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of recent upper extremity surgery
• history of sensory deficits in the upper extremity
• recent upper extremity injury
• undergoing any resistance training

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: OTHER
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: DOUBLE

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: 63 Hz vibration group; Vibration of 63 Hz frequency was applied.	Other: 63 Hz Vibration; Vibrations of 63 Hz were applied with handheld vibration device.
ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: 42 Hz vibration group; Vibration of 42 Hz frequency was applied.	Other: 42 Hz Vibration; Vibrations of 42 Hz were applied with handheld vibration device.
SHAM_COMPARATOR: Sham vibration group; No actual vibration was applied.	Other: Sham vibration; Handheld device was applied to the participants without any vibrations.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Active elbow joint position error	Participants were asked to actively reproduce a target position of the elbow joint.	1 day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: King Saud University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): June 6, 2018
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): September 24, 2018
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): November 15, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 12, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 12, 2022
• First Posted (ACTUAL): October 14, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): October 14, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 12, 2022
• Last Verified: October 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: rehabilitation; proprioception; elbow; joint position sense; Muscle vibration
• Other Study ID Numbers: RRC-2018-007

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No