Effect of Whole-body Vibration on the Ankle Joint, Plantar Pressure, and Running Paramethers

The main purpose of this study was the assessment of whole-body vibration warm-up, modified drop jumps, and combination of both on the range of motion of dorsiflexion in the ankle joint and running time. 16 recreationally active runners performed 4 different warm-up variants one week apart: 5 sets of 30 s calf raises on the platform but without vibration (CTRL), the same as CTRL group but with vibration with 30 s rest intervals between sets (WBV), 6 drop jumps with a 30 s rest interval between sets (DJ); last group was combination of both WBV and DJ groups (WBV+DJ). The study included muscle flexibility tests for the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles performed before the warm-up, 3 minutes after warm-up and immediately after a 3000 m run on a treadmill. The running time was measured and the run had to be completed in the shortest possible time.

Additionally, in the third week of the study there were performed static and dynamic foot measurements immediately before and after a 3000 m treadmill run. The main purpose of that gait analysis was to assess the impact of a 3km run on plantar pressure patterns and gait parameters in recreational runners.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Gait; Running; Range of Motion
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: LADY 1 Pro, New Life Balance; Other: exercises

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 16
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Poland
  • Pomorskie
    • Gdańsk, Pomorskie, Poland, 80-336
      • Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• healthy and recreationally active males
• minimum two years of running training experience

Exclusion Criteria:

• rheumatological disease
• neurological disease
• orthopaedic disease
• genetic disease
• cardiovascular system disease
• pain in lower limbs in the last year
• pain in lumbar spine in the last year
• surgeries of lower limbs in the last year
• surgeries of spine in the last year
• musculoskeletal injuries in the lower limbs in the last year
• musculoskeletal injuries in the lumbar spine in the last year
• the absence during one or more training day

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: warm-up intervention; Each participant performed all warm-up variants one week apart, without the possibility of repeating: CTRL 5 sets of 30 s calf raises on the platform but without vibration with 30 s rest intervals between sets; WBV 5 sets of 30 s calf raises on the vibration platform with 30 s rest intervals between sets; DJ 6 modified drop jump with a 30 s rest interval between sets (DJ); WBV + DJ 5 sets of 30 s calf raises on the vibration platform followed by 6 drop jumps with a 30 s rest interval between sets

Device: LADY 1 Pro, New Life Balance; whole-body vibration training on the platform; Other: exercises; calf raises and modified drop jumps

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (Gastrocnemius muscle flexibility test)	The participant laid in a supine position with his knee straight and his ankle joint off the table. The researcher 1 tested the maximum dorsiflexion of the foot and controlled the position of the knee. The researcher 2 applied the AMI digital inclinometer (OPIW, Poland) to the outer edge of the foot. The The angle of dorsiflexion was measured in degrees.	3 times - before the warm-up, 3 minutes after warm-up and immediately after a 3000 m run
Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion (Soleus muscle flexibility test)	The participant laid in a supine position with the knee bent 90 degrees. The researcher 1 performed passive maximum dorsiflexion of the foot. The researcher 2 applied the AMI digital inclinometer (OPIW, Poland) to the outer edge of the foot. The angle of dorsiflexion was measured in degrees.	3 times - before the warm-up, 3 minutes after warm-up and immediately after a 3000 m run
Static foot analysis (FootScan platform)	In static measurement participants stood barefoot on the Footscan platform at a designated point, assuming a relaxed and natural position, remaining still and looking straight ahead with their arms by their sides. Static paramethers include the pressure of the parts of each foot (impulse - Ns/cm).	2 times - immediately before and after 3000 m run
Dynamic foot analysis (FootScan platform) 1	During dynamic measurement participants were asked to walk barefoot in a relaxed manner at a self-selected comfort speed, and not to look at the ground. Dynamic parametrers include foot pressure (impulse - Ns/cm).	2 times - immediately before and after 3000 m run
Dynamic foot analysis (FootScan platform) 2	During dynamic measurement participants were asked to walk barefoot in a relaxed manner at a self-selected comfort speed, and not to look at the ground. Dynamic parametrers include gait speed (m/s).	2 times - immediately before and after 3000 m run
Dynamic foot analysis (FootScan platform) 3	During dynamic measurement participants were asked to walk barefoot in a relaxed manner at a self-selected comfort speed, and not to look at the ground. Dynamic parametrers include walking time (s).	2 times - immediately before and after 3000 m run

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport
• Investigators: Study Chair: Paulina W Ewertowska, PhD, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 14, 2022
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 22, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): December 22, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 18, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 24, 2024
• First Posted (Estimated): January 26, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): January 26, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 24, 2024
• Last Verified: October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: ankle; runners; range of motion; muscle flexibility; foot arches; plantar pressure patterns; Footscan
• Other Study ID Numbers: AWFiS/2023_6_PE

Drug and device information, study documents

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