Effect of whole-body vibration therapy on performance recovery.

Purpose: To compare whole-body vibration (WBV) with traditional recovery protocols after a high-intensity training bout.

Methods: In a randomized crossover study, 16 athletes performed 6 × 30-s Wingate sprints before completing either an active recovery (10 min of cycling and stretching) or WBV for 10 min in a series of exercises on a vibration platform. Muscle hemodynamics (assessed via near-infrared spectroscopy) were measured before and during exercise and into the 10-min recovery period.

Long-term effect of whole body vibration training on jump height: meta-analysis.

Whole body vibration (WBV) is widely promoted as a means of improving muscle strength, but the evidence of a performance benefit is unclear with some reporting improvements and others finding none. The objective of this study was to analyze the current evidence for the effectiveness of WBV on jump height. We included randomized controlled trials or matched design studies comparing the effect of WBV training on countermovement and squat jump (SJ) height, which were gathered from MEDLINE, Web of Knowledge, Sciencedirect, Proquest, Scopus, Google Scholar, and SPORTDiscus databases.

Effects of low-load resistance training combined with blood flow restriction or hypoxia on muscle function and performance in netball athletes.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of blood flow restriction or normobaric hypoxic exposure combined with low-load resistant exercise (LRE), on muscular strength and endurance.

Design: A randomised controlled trial.

Methods: Well-trained netball players (n=30) took part in a 5 weeks training of knee flexor and extensor muscles in which LRE (20% of one repetition maximum) was combined with (1) an occlusion pressure of approximately 230mmHg around the upper thigh (KT, n=10), (2) hypoxic air to generate blood oxyhaemoglobin levels of approximately 80% (HT, n=10) or (3) with no additional stimulus (CT, n=10).

Obesity, energy intake and physical activity in rural and urban New Zealand children.

Introduction: Concerns have been raised about childhood obesity and its long-term impact on the health of children. The objective of this study was to investigate rural-urban differences in body composition, energy intake, physical activity and screen time in New Zealand children.

Methods: This study reports on data collected in a large national cross-sectional population survey of 5-15 year-old New Zealanders (the 2002 National Children's Nutrition Survey, CNS02).

Energy balance during an ironman triathlon in male and female triathletes.

Energy balance of 10 male and 8 female triathletes participating in an Ironman event (3.8-km swim, 180-km cycle, 42.2-km run) was investigated.