Efeitos agudos do exercício de vibração de corpo inteiro na força de preensão palmar e atividade dos músculos flexor superficial e extensor dos dedos em militares do Exército Brasileiro

Abstract

Military soldiers must have a high level of physical fitness due to their activities. Strength and endurance of upper limbs are always tested and trained in militaries. Whole-body vibration exercise is a method of neuromuscular training and has been attracting attention from athletes and general public, because it has lower risk of injuries and can improve muscle strength in shorter periods of time when compared to other resistance exercises. Fifteen young and healthy male soldiers performed 5 test series consisting each one in handgrip strength measurement and surface electromyography of flexor digitorum superficialis and wrist extensor muscles in 3 different conditions of rest, 1 of the 3 following procedures was performed: 30 seconds rest plus 30 seconds push-up vibration exercise (PUSH-UP), 30 seconds rest plus 30 seconds squat vibration exercise (SQUAT) or 60 seconds only rest (CONTROL). The vibration was applied by a triplanar platform (PowerPlate pro5 - Power Plate International LTD, The Netherlands) at a frequency of 50 Hz with 1.53 mm of amplitude. Afterwards, participants were encouraged to keep themselves on a pull-up bar during 30 seconds with extended arms. Statistical analysis revealed that the EMG measured in the flexor digitorum superficialis during the pull up bar exercise after SQUAT condition were significantly higher (p=0.004) than the CONTROL and PUSH-UP conditions. These data suggest that a vibration stimulus applied to the feet, between sets, changes neuromuscular performance during the pull up bar exercise on military soldiers, probably by an increase of the recruitment of muscle fibers.