Accelerometry-based study of body vibration dampening during whole-body vibration training

The purpose of our study was to characterize the vibration delivered by a whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise platform and quantify the acceleration transmissibility throughout the body during different WBV exercises. Our accelerometry-based experimental setup, includes materials and methods for assessing vibration frequencies and corresponding magnitudes both at the side-alternating vibration platform and on multiple anatomic landmarks of the subject´s body. Fourteen subjects completed a sequence of four different exercises on the platform at different vibration frequencies. Results have shown that researchers/clinicians should verify the vibration characteristics of the platform before beginning its use. The information provided by the manufacturers can have limited utility when prescribing an exercise/rehabilitation program on a WBV platform. Vibration seems to be dampened while it travels the body distal to proximal, with maximal attenuation seen at the shoulder level. Different exercises seem to influence the vibration transmissibility to some extent.