Study aim: The practical application of vibration stimuli is increasingly observed in physiotherapy and sports. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of local vibration on knee-joint range of motion (ROM) improvement among male American football players.
Materials and methods: The study consisted of 31 participants (age 22.9 ± 4.3), divided by knee injury (KI) history and nKI (no knee injury). The intervention involved the use of vibration on parts of the quadriceps muscle with a 10-second vibration and 5-second intermission protocol. ROM measurements were conducted in the prone position (PrP) before the intervention, immediately after, and after 10 minutes, as well as in the half-kneeling position (HkP) before and immediately after.
Results: Knee ROM increased immediately after (p < 0.001) and 10 minutes after (p < 0.05) the intervention in nKI in the PrP, and there was a statistically significant improvement in the HkP (p < 0.001). There was no significant interaction between ROM in PrP and knee injury (F2,58 = 8.562; p < 0.001), but there were significant differences in the ROM before (KI: 133.9° ± 6.26°; nKI: 144° ± 4.06°), immediately after (KI: 137.3° ± 6.98°; nKI: 145.9° ± 4.64°), and 10 minutes after (KI: 136.7° ± 6.75°; nKI: 145.6° ± 4.5°) the intervention. There was no significant interaction between ROM measurement in HkP and knee injury. There was a statistically significant difference in ROM (F1,29 = 33.76; p < 0.001) before (KI: 141.4° ± 7.66°; nKI: 146.4° ± 7.17°) and immediately after (KI: 145.3° ± 8.22°; nKI: 150.2° ± 6.32°) the intervention in the HkP.
Conclusions: Local vibration may increase knee ROM by improving soft tissue elasticity.
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