To Assess the Efficacy of a Localized Focal Vibration Tool on the Muscular Response to Five Countermovement Jumps in Healthy Soccer Players

Effectiveness of the Localized Focal Vibration Tool on the Biomechanics of the Lower Limb

This research study aims to introduce the localized focal vibration tool. To this end, a 3-week protocol with a single session per week was created.

In the one hand, the study subject must be a soccer player, regardless of whether male or female, and must not be suffering from any active injury.

All subjects must complete an identical warm-up before beginning the noninvasive intervention using the vibration tool.

The warm-up consists of various joint mobility exercises for the legs, a brief cardio session by pedaling a stationary bicycle, and finally, jumping exercises to properly activate the main muscles of the lower limbs and thus be able to begin the intervention protocol.

In the other hand, the study subjects are divided into two groups: intervention and placebo.

Neither the study subject nor the research team knows who belongs to each group; only the person handling the focal vibration tool will know.

To begin the intervention, three surface electromyography probes are placed on the vastus medialis of the quadriceps, the tibialis anterior, and the internal gastrocnemius, and the subject is asked to perform five countermovement jumps barefoot and without moving their arms to gain momentum.

The subject then pedals at 90-100 rpm on a stationary bicycle while wearing the sensors of the 120 Hz focal vibration tool for 10 minutes.

The intervention group wears headgear to ensure tactile stimulation, while the placebo group does not wear headgear, thus ensuring that there is no tactile stimulation.

After the pedaling period, the electromyography sensors are reapplied to the lower limb in the anatomical areas described above, and the same jumping protocol is followed again.

This intervention is identical for the 3 days of recording.

This noninvasive intervention protocol aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the 120 Hz focal vibration tool in recruiting muscle fibers in the targeted muscles through numerical improvements in muscle electrical activity and improved countermovement jump parameters.

A three-day follow-up period was established to determine when any improvement from the application of focal vibration therapy begins.

All study subjects are volunteers to participate during the official soccer season for their respective age group and may withdraw from the study at any time if they wish.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Practice soccer at least three times a week.
• Do not suffer from any alterations or pathologies prior to or during the study in the area of interest for the research.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having a lower limb disorder or pathology
• Receiving any type of lower limb treatment from a healthcare professional or receiving pseudoscientific treatments.
• Having any absolute or relative contraindications to measurement tests, surface electromyography, inertial sensor, and/or focal vibration.
• Refuse to sign informed consent.