Short-term effect of whole-body vibration in static posture: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

The present study aimed at evaluating the short-term effect of one whole-body body vibration (WBV) session in the static posture of apparently healthy young adults, by means of a randomized controlled trial. Twenty-one volunteers were recruited and randomly assigned to one of three blinded interventions: (1) vibration group - VG; (2) placebo group – PG; and (3) control group - CG. Static posture of all volunteers was blind assessed before and right after interventions using computerized biophotogrammetry. Significant differences were observed in CG (tibial tuberosity horizontal alignment: p = 0.04) and in VG (pelvic horizontal alignment: p = 0.04). The intergroup analysis showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). The initial hypothesis was that if WBV provides strong reflex muscle contractions, posture alterations could be detected after a session. It was not possible to observe a short-term effect of a WBVE session on static posture as assessed by biophotogrammetry.