Occurrence of fatigue induced by a whole-body vibration session is not frequency dependent.

The aim of this study was to determine whether neuromuscular adaptations (magnitude and location) induced by isometric exercise performed on an oscillating platform are dependent on whole-body vibration (WBV) frequency. Eleven young men performed 4 separate fatigue sessions of static squatting exercise at 3 frequencies of WBV (V20, V40, and V60) and 1 session without vibration (V0). Isometric torque and electromyographic activity of the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and biceps femoris were recorded during maximal voluntary and evoked contractions of the knee extensor muscles before and after each fatigue session to examine both peripheral and central adaptations. Isometric torque decreased significantly after each of the 4 frequency sessions (V0: -9.4 ± 6.1%, p = 0.003; V20: -8.1 ± 9.9%, p = 0.010; V40: -11.9 ± 12.7%, p = 0.011; and V60: -7.8 ± 9.2%, p = 0.001, respectively), but this reduction was not significantly different between frequencies. The torque produced by evoked contraction significantly decreased from pre-exercise values after each session (V0: -14.9 ± 15.6%, p = 0.012; V20: -15.8 ± 16.4%, p = 0.010; V40: -21.0 ± 14.3%, p = 0.004; and V60: -17.3 ± 11.6%, p = 0.005, respectively); however, there was no effect of vibration frequency. In both conditions, the maximal voluntary contraction torque reduction observed was mainly attributable to peripheral fatigue and was not because of central modifications of the neuromuscular system. The present study demonstrates that the frequency of vibration does not significantly influence the magnitude and location of neuromuscular fatigue, suggesting that adding WBV to static squat exercise (on a vertically oscillating platform) does not provide an additional training stimulus.