Whole-body vibration transmission during resistance vibration exercise.

Introduction: Resistive exercise combined with whole-body vibration (WBV) and short-arm human centrifugation is being considered as a countermeasure to mitigate muscle and bone loss in astronauts during prolonged space missions. WBV may provide exercise benefits or adverse effects on organs and the lower back. These effects may result from vibration transmitted throughout the body. The objective of this study was to compare vibration transmission (VT) from the ground to the body during resistance vibration exercise (RVE) comprising squat and calf raise performed on a rotational vibration plate. Specifically, we compared VT during RVE in the upright position (URVE) and on a short-arm human centrifuge (artificial gravity, AG) establishing a similar ground reaction force. The latter (AGRVE) is considered a potential countermeasure for microgravity-induced musculoskeletal deconditioning. Methods: Fifteen healthy males participated. They were assigned to two groups: one ( Results: In both conditions, the lower limbs attenuated vibration transmission to the lower back ( Conclusion: During RVE, whether in URVE or AGRVE, lower limbs effectively attenuated vibrations, resulting in negligible pelvic exposure. AGRVE may represent a safer alternative to URVE due to reduced transmission to the lower back and adjacent sensitive regions.