Kinser, A. M., Ramsey, M. W., O'Bryant, H. S., Ayres, C. A., Sands, W. A., & Stone, M. H. (2008). Vibration and stretching effects on flexibility and explosive strength in young gymnasts. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 40, 133-140.

Female athletes (N = 22) composed a simultaneous vibration-stretching group, which performed two tests. Flexibility testing control groups were stretching-only (N = 7) and vibration-only (N = 8). Explosive strength-control groups were stretching-only (N = 8) and vibration-only (N = 7). Vibration was applied to four sites, four times for 10 seconds, with 5 seconds of rest in between. Right and left forward-split flexibility was measured by the distance between the ground and the anterior suprailiac spine. A force plate recorded countermovement and static jump characteristics. Explosive strength variables included flight time, jump height, peak force, instantaneous forces, and rates of force development.

Vibration-stretching had statistically increased flexibility and large effect sizes in both the right and left forward-split flexibility. Vibration-stretching had statistically different results for the favored and non-favored legs. Vibration-only produced increases in flexibility and medium effect sizes on the right forward-split and statistically increased flexibility on the non-favored leg. Stretching-only produced no differences between measures. For explosive strength, there were no differences in any variables in the vibration-stretching, explosive strength stretching-only, and explosive strength vibration-only groups for the pre- vs. post-treatment tests.

Implication. Simultaneous vibration and stretching increases flexibility but does not alter explosive strength.

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