Prolonged muscle vibration reduces maximal voluntary knee extension performance in both the ipsilateral and the contralateral limb in man.

Previous studies have shown that prolonged vibration of the rectus femoris decreases maximal voluntary knee extension performance in the ipsilateral leg. In the present study, measurements of maximal voluntary isometric knee extension contractions with the ipsilateral (right) leg and the contralateral (left) leg were made immediately before and after vibration treatment. Significant reductions in maximal force and maximum rate of force generation occurred in both the ipsilateral and contralateral legs following 30 minutes of continuous vibration at both 30 Hz and 120 Hz, with 30 Hz causing the greatest ipsilateral effects. However, although the level of neural activation (iEMG) of the vibrated muscle (right rectus femoris) was reduced following 30 Hz vibration ( P=0.026), there were no significant changes occurring in a synergistic muscle (right vastus lateralis) or in either contralateral muscle. It was concluded that muscle vibration may act through spinal reflex pathways to influence the homonymous motoneuron pool. The effects on contralateral force but not specific muscle iEMG suggest an effect on heteronymous motoneuron pools or an effect acting on central descending drive to contralateral muscles. These findings may have implications for the rehabilitation of patients with an immobilised limb.