The effect of whole body vibration on the sprint ability of Korean national bobsled and skeleton athletes

by Seok-Ki Min, Kwangkyu Lee, Seung-Taek Lim

This study aims to find out whether whole body vibration has an effect on the sprint ability to shorten the time of bobsled-skeleton athletes. Seventeen bobsled-skeleton athletes (male = 11, female = 6) were recruited from Korea Winter Olympics National Team. Participants were randomly assigned to either a sprint immediately after whole body vibration or a sprint without whole body vibration protocol during two separate visits by a period of 3 months. To evaluate the effects of the sprint ability, measurements were performed 60-m sprint recorded test. In males, at the 45m (p<0.05) significant faster sprint section record after WBV more than Non-WBV. In females, at the 15m (p<0.05), 30m (p<0.01), 45m (p<0.05), and 60m (p<0.05) significant faster sprint section record after WBV more than Non-WBV. In males, at the 30m (p<0.05), 45m (p<0.05), and 50m (p<0.05) significant faster sprint cumulative record after WBV more than Non-WBV. In females, at the 15m (p<0.05), 30m (p<0.05), 45m (p<0.01), 50m (p<0.01), and 60m (p<0.01) significant faster sprint cumulative record after WBV more than Non-WBV. This study indicated that significant faster after WBV more than Non-WBV in males and females bobsled-skeleton athletes.