The effect of whole body vibration on the sprint ability of Korean national bobsled and skeleton athletes

Abstract

This study aims to find out whether whole body vibration has an effect on the sprint ability to shorten the time of bobsled-skeleton athletes. Seventeen bobsled-skeleton athletes (male = 11, female = 6) were recruited from Korea Winter Olympics National Team. Participants were randomly assigned to either a sprint immediately after whole body vibration or a sprint without whole body vibration protocol during two separate visits by a period of 3 months. To evaluate the effects of the sprint ability, measurements were performed 60-m sprint recorded test. In males, at the 45m (p<0.05) significant faster sprint section record after WBV more than Non-WBV. In females, at the 15m (p<0.05), 30m (p<0.01), 45m (p<0.05), and 60m (p<0.05) significant faster sprint section record after WBV more than Non-WBV. In males, at the 30m (p<0.05), 45m (p<0.05), and 50m (p<0.05) significant faster sprint cumulative record after WBV more than Non-WBV. In females, at the 15m (p<0.05), 30m (p<0.05), 45m (p<0.01), 50m (p<0.01), and 60m (p<0.01) significant faster sprint cumulative record after WBV more than Non-WBV. This study indicated that significant faster after WBV more than Non-WBV in males and females bobsled-skeleton athletes.