Student Activity - Investigating whole body vibration training

Activity idea

By the end of this activity, students should understand:

• how to read information in data tables
• how scientists can evaluate evidence from experiments

This activity looks at some of the results that different groups of scientists have found when they have been investigating the effects of WBV. This will provide you with some experience in reading information in data tables. It will also show you how scientists can evaluate evidence from experiments and may help you make some decisions about the effectiveness of WBV training.

Instructions

1. Read the Hub article Whole body vibration training.

2. Act out the following exercises (even if you do not have access to a vibrating platform):

• Bosco, et al. – One arm a little bent and holding a 2.8 kg vibrating dumbbell for 5 x 60s with 60s rest intervals. Other arm control.
• Bosco, Colli et al. – Vibration applied on one leg, while standing on toes (100º flexion) for 10 x 60s with 60s rest interval. Other leg control.
• Rittweger et al. – Stand on the machine for 30s. Then stand and squat (3s down, 3s up) while holding a weight. In the research experiment, this weight was 40 percent body weight for men and 30 percent body weight for women. Keep standing and squatting for as long you can (called ‘until failure’).
• Torvinen et al. – Do this 60s cycle four times: 0-10s light squatting, 10-20s standing tall and straight, 20-30s standing with bent knees, 30-40s light jumping.

3. Use the table at the end of the article to answer the following questions.

• Write in your own words the data that is recorded in the column Observed changes measured as a percentage of C. Bosco, et al.
• Use the data in the top part of the table (changes in performance from vibration training) to prepare a debate or argument in support of the use of WBV as part of an athlete’s strength training programme.
• Imagine you are an athletic coach not convinced about the benefits of WBV training. Using the data in the bottom part of the table (studies in which vibration had no influence), write a paragraph that justifies your doubts about WBV training.
• Develop a question that you would like to have answered in order to help you make your mind up about the benefits or not of WBV.