Effect of Whole-Body Vibration on Sports Performance: A Literature Review

Whole-body vibration (WBV) has gained increasing attention as a potential tool in improving sports performance. WBV involves using vibrating platforms to expose the entire body to mechanical vibrations, leading to neuromuscular adaptations. This review paper aims to provide an overview of the different effects of WBV on various aspects of sports performance, including strength, power, and flexibility, and clarify the possible benefits and limitations of this technology in sports. The review was conducted on English-language articles published in the last 20 years (2003–2023). 109 articles were selected in PubMed, Scopus, World of Science and IEEE Xplore databases. Several studies have examined the impact of WBV on strength gains with discordant results. For example, some studies report improvement in muscle strength and power, especially in the lower limbs. Contrarily, others do not show any significant improvement. Other researches have explored the impact of WBV on flexibility, offering potential benefits. The neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the effects of WBV, while not yet fully understood, appear to include increased recruitment of motor units, increased reflex activity, and alterations in the sensitivity of neuromuscular spindles. In conclusion, WBV is a promising technology with great potential in various fields of application in sports training, such as the development of strength, power, and flexibility, if properly used. Further studies are still needed to deeply understand the effects on the human body, establish the optimal parameters for integrating WBV into training, refine protocols, and explore the long-term effects of WBV on athletic performance.