Effects of a 6-week periodized squat training program with or without whole-body vibration on jump height and power output following acute vibration exposure.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 6-week, periodized squat training program with (SQTV) or without (SQT) whole-body low-frequency vibration (WBLFV) on acute improvements in jump height and power output over 3 separate testing occasions. Participants ranged in age from 18 to 30 years and were randomized into 1 of 3 groups (CG, or control group, n = 6; SQTV, n = 13; or SQT, n = 11). SQTV and SQT performed Smith machine back squat training twice per week with 3 to 5 sets of 55 90% of the 1-repetition maximum (1RM). The SQTV group also received WBLFV (50 Hz; 2-6-mm amplitude) during the 6-week training period before training (30 seconds, 2-4-mm amplitude) and between sets (3 bouts lasting 10 seconds each). Two 30-cm depth jumps and two 20-kg squat jumps were performed after an acute vibration protocol during weeks 1, 3, and 7. Jump height (cm), peak power (Pmax), peak power per kilogram of body mass (Pmax/kg), and mean power (Pav) were recorded for the depth and squat jumps. Although there were no group by trial interactions, percent change in Pmax for the squat jump was greater (p < 0.01) for the SQTV group than for the SQT group post WBLFV. In addition, the percent change scores for jump height and Pmax/kg for the depth jump were greater (p < 0.05) for SQTV than for SQT following WBLFV exposure. WBLFV during the 6-week squat training program resulted in greater acute improvements in power output and jump height for both jump conditions compared to SQT alone.