Acute Effects of Percussive Vibration Therapy on Release Velocity and Throwing Distance in Ultimate Frisbee Players

Introduction: Percussive Vibration Therapy (PVT) has emerged as a novel warm-up strategy aimed at enhancing neuromuscular activation and post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE). While its use is growing in various sports, limited evidence exists on its acute effects in Ultimate Frisbee, particularly on throwing performance variables such as release velocity and throwing distance. Objective: This study aimed to examine the acute effects of PVT compared to a conventional dynamic warm-up on frisbee release velocity and throwing distance among university-level Ultimate Frisbee players. Methods: Thirty players were randomly assigned to either a PVT group or a control group. Both groups completed a pre-test of three maximal-effort backhand throws to measure release velocity (m/s) using high-speed video analysis and throwing distance (m) using tape measurement. The intervention consisted of either PVT applied to the triceps brachii, deltoid, and latissimus dorsi (PVT group) or a matched-duration dynamic warm-up (control group). Post-test measures were collected using the same procedures. Data were analysed using two-way mixed ANOVA, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Both groups improved significantly over time in release velocity, with the PVT group showing a larger increase (p < 0.001, large effect size). Throwing distance improved in both groups (p = 0.044), but no significant between-group difference was observed. Conclusion: PVT is effective for acutely enhancing frisbee release velocity but does not significantly outperform conventional warm-up for throwing distance. These findings support the use of PVT as a supplementary warm-up tool for sports involving explosive upper-limb actions.