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Fingertip contact suppresses the destabilizing influence of leg muscle vibration.

Touch of the hand with a stationary surface at nonmechanically supportive force levels (<1 N) greatly attenuates postural sway during quiet stance. We predicted such haptic contact would also suppress the postural destabilization caused by vibrating the right peroneus brevis and longus muscles of subjects standing heel-to-toe with eyes closed. In experiment 1, ten subjects were tested under four conditions: no-vibration, no-touch; no-vibration, touch; vibration, no-touch; and vibration, touch. A hand-held physiotherapy vibrator (120 Hz) was applied approximately 5 cm above the malleolous to stimulate the peroneus longus and brevis tendons. Touch conditions involved contact of the right index finger with a laterally positioned surface (<1 N of force) at waist height. Vibration in the absence of finger contact greatly increased the mean sway amplitude of the center of pressure and of the head relative to the no-vibration, no-touch control condition (P < 0.001). The touch, no-vibration and touch-vibration conditions were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from each other and both had significantly less mean sway amplitude of head and of center of pressure than the other conditions (P < 0.01). In experiment 2, eight subjects stood heel-to-toe under touch and no-touch conditions involving 40-s duration trials of peroneus tendon vibration at different duty cycles: 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-s ON and OFF periods. The vibrator was attached to the subject's leg and remotely activated. In the no-touch conditions, subjects showed periodic postural disruptions contingent on the duty cycle and mirror image rebounds with the offset of vibration. In the touch conditions, subjects were much less disrupted and showed compensations occurring within 500 ms of vibration onset and mirror image rebounds with vibration offset. Subjects were able to suppress almost completely the destabilizing influence of the vibration in the 3- and 4-s duty cycle trials. These experiments show that haptic contact of the hand with a stable surface can suppress abnormal proprioceptive and motor signals in leg muscles.

Adult↗

Suspected vibration magnitude on the body of chain saw users among National Forest workers in Kyusyu, from 1956 to 1984.

Chain saws were first used in Kyusyu in 1956 for cutting down trees and sawing timber in the national forests. In 1961, some workers complained of symptoms due to the vibrations, but countermeasures were not taken until later. The working system and payment system in those times were different from the systems, today. The magnitudes of the chain saw vibrations were very large and the chain saws were operated for many hours, each day. Workers with VWF (vibration induced white finger) had to continue to operate the chain saws without restriction. Vibration disease is related primarily to the vibration of the tools, but also to the transmission of the vibration to the workers. From the official data on chain saws used in national forests, vibration transmission to the body was determined for workers from 1956 to 1984 by comparing the vibration magnitude on the body during work with modern chain saws and during vibration loading tests with an electrodynamic shaker in the laboratory. The vibrations transmitted to the body in some rule in the observation. If the working posture of chain saw operator was the same as today, the vibration transmission was determined from the tool vibration, tool weight, joint fixation and orientation of the hands and the hands and the arms to the handle (joint elasticity). Older chain saws had 20 to 30 times larger vibration magnitudes than modern chain saws, and were also 2 to 3 times heavier. The vibrations transmitted to the foreheads of earlier workers were approximately the same magnitude as the vibrations at the back of the hands of present workers. Also the daily and annual hours of chain saw use were very long, and there were not sufficient measures to protect from the cold. The vibration in the former days led to more symptoms and lesions than in present times.

Elasticity↗

Vascular responses to acute vibration in the fingers of normal subjects.

The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the acute effects of unilateral vibration on the digital circulation of healthy men. In the fingers of both hands of eight male subjects (age 23-47 years) who had never worked with vibrating tools, finger blood flow (FBF) and finger skin temperature (FST) in thermoneutral conditions, and the percentage change of finger systolic pressure (FSP %) after local cooling from 30 to 10 degrees C were measured. The right hand was exposed for 30 min to sinusoidal vibration with a frequency of 125 Hz and an acceleration of 87.5 m.s.-2r.m.s. A control condition consisted of exposure to the same static load (10 N) but without vibration. The measures of digital circulation were taken before exposure to vibration and static load and at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min after the end of each exposure. Exposure to static load caused no significant changes in FBF, FST, or FSP % in either the test right or the control left finger. Immediately after vibration, there was a temporary increase in FBF in the vibrated right finger, while the non-vibrated left finger exhibited no vasodilation. In both the vibrated and non-vibrated fingers, FBF and FST significantly reduced during the recovery time. A large inter-subject variability was observed for FBF and, to a lesser extent, for FST. In the vibrated right finger the decrease in blood flow was significantly related to cold-induced vasoconstriction in the digital vessels. Such a relation was not observed in the non-vibrated left finger. The results of this investigation suggest that acute vibration can disturb the function of digital vessels through two different and opposite mechanisms. Vibration appears to produce local vasodilation and to trigger a central sympathetic reflex vasoconstriction which can be recorded in the ipsilateral and the contralateral finger to vibration. Both local and central vasoconstrictor mechanisms are likely to be involved in the response to cold observed in the digital vessels of a vibrated finger.

Adult↗

Vibrational excitation and relaxation of five polyatomic molecules in an electrical discharge.

Vibrational excitation and relaxation of five linear polyatomic molecules, OCS, OC3S, HC3N, HC5N, and SiC2S, have been studied by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy in a supersonic expansion after the application of a low-current dc electric discharge. For each chain, the populations in bending and stretching modes have been characterized as a function of the applied discharge current; for stable OCS and HC3N, vibrational populations were studied as well in the absence of a discharge. With no discharge present the derived vibrational temperatures are slightly below T, the temperature of the gas before the supersonic expansion (i.e., 300 K). In the presence of the discharge, vibrational excitation occurs via inelastic collisions with the electrons and the vibrational temperatures rise as the applied current increases. Global vibrational relaxation is governed by rapid vibration-vibration (VV) energy transfer and slow vibration-translation (VT) energy transfer. The latter process is rate-determining and depends primarily on the wave number of the vibration. Vibrational modes with wave numbers near and below kT/hc (where T = 300 K and kT/hc-210 cm(-1)) are efficiently cooled by VT transfer because a sufficient number of collisions occur in the initial stages of the supersonic expansion. Vibrational modes with wave numbers around 450 cm(-l) appear to be inefficiently cooled in the molecular beam; at these energies VV and VT rates are probably comparable. For high-frequency vibrations, VV energy transfer dominates. For the longer chains OC3S and HC5N, higher-lying modes are generally not detectable and vibrational temperatures of most lower-lying modes were found to be lower than those of OCS and HC3N, suggesting that as the size of the molecules increases, intermode VV transfer becomes more efficient, plausibly due to the higher density of vibrational levels. New high resolution spectroscopic data have been obtained for several vibrationally excited states of OC3S, HC3N, and HC5N. Rotational lines of the 13C and 15N isotopic species of HC5N have been measured, yielding improved rotational and centrifugal distortion constants; 14N nitrogen quadrupole coupling constants for the isotopic species of HC5N with 13C have been determined for the first time.

Journal Article↗

The effect of diastolic vibration on the relaxation of rat papillary muscle.

OBJECTIVE: It has been demonstrated that the application of an external mechanical vibration during the ventricular relaxation phase of the heart (diastolic vibration) decreases the time needed for myocardial relaxation. The objective of this study is to see whether this vibration-induced decrease in relaxation time is an intrinsic property of the contractile proteins. We hypothesize that this decrease in duration of the late systolic phase by diastolic vibration is likely to be due to a forced detachment of crossbridges from the actin filament. This would then result in a decrease in the relaxation time of myocardial tissue. METHODS: A controlled vibration of variable amplitude and frequency was applied to isolated twitching rat papillary muscles. Vibration was initiated from directly after peak tension development and ended when tension had returned to baseline. Effects of applied vibration were expressed as changes in the time interval from 90% rising- to 50% falling-force level, which was termed the 'late systolic phase'. RESULTS: The data showed that in general diastolic vibration decreased the duration of this late systolic phase. A vibration of 1.0% of Lmax at 50 Hz in the late systolic phase shortened this period by 27 ms (20-30%) on average. At increasing amplitude of vibration the increase in the rate of relaxation was even more pronounced. Shortening of this duration was slightly less at frequencies of vibration below 40 Hz than at higher frequencies of vibration. Changes in the resting muscle length did not result in significant changes in shortening of the studied relaxation period. CONCLUSION: The results show that relaxation is accelerated during application of an external vibration during the period of tension fall of an isolated cardiac muscle preparation. Therefore, we can conclude that the acceleration of relaxation due to vibration is primarily due to properties of the myocytes themselves rather than to the complex geometric structure of the heart. Tension in the relaxation phase was reduced during diastolic vibration, which suggests that the number of crossbridges bound to the actin filament was reduced by the length perturbation.

Animals↗

Vibration characteristics of the human spine under axial cyclic loads: effect of frequency and damping.

STUDY DESIGN: A nonlinear finite element model of lumbar spine segment L3-L5 was developed. The effects of upper body mass, nucleus injury, damping, and different vibration frequency loads were analyzed for the whole body vibration. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the influence of whole body vibration on facets of lumbar spine and to analyze the influence of nucleus injury, upper body mass, and damping on the dynamic characteristics of lumbar spine. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Many studies have investigated whole body vibration for lumbar spine. However, very few investigations analyzed the influence of whole body vibration on facets and vibration characteristics of the injured spine. METHODS: The nonlinear finite element model of the L3-L5 segment was constructed based on the embalmed vertebra geometry and validated. Besides static and modal analyses, transient dynamic analyses were also conducted on the model with an upper body mass under damping and different frequency cyclic loads. RESULTS: In the period of human spine vibration, the vibration effects of different regions of the lumbar spine are not the same. Anterior regions of the L3-L5 segment show small vibration amplitudes, but posterior regions show large amplitudes. The vibration amplitude of facet contact force is more than 2.0-fold as large as that of displacement and stress on vertebrae or discs. To decrease the weight of the upper body will increase the resonant frequency. To remove the nucleus will decrease the resonant frequencies. The vibration displacement, stress, and facet contact force will reduce generally by 50% using damping ratio 0.08. CONCLUSIONS: The posterior regions of intervertebral discs of the lumbar spine are easy to injure during long-term whole body vibration compared to anterior regions. The vibration of human spine is more dangerous to facets, especially during whole body vibration approximating a sympathetic vibration, which may lead to abnormal remodeling and disorder of the lumbar spine.

Cadaver↗

Evaluating the effectiveness of gloves in reducing the hazards of hand-transmitted vibration.

OBJECTIVES: A method of evaluating the effectiveness of gloves in reducing the hazards of hand-transmitted vibration is proposed. METHOD: The glove isolation effectiveness was calculated from: (a) the measured transmissibility of a glove, (b) the vibration spectrum on the handle of a specific tool (or class of tools), and (c) the frequency weighting indicating the degree to which different frequencies of vibration cause injury. With previously reported tool vibration spectra and glove transmissibilities (from 10-1000 Hz), the method was used to test 10 gloves with 20 different powered tools. RESULTS: The frequency weighting for hand-transmitted vibration advocated in British standard 6842 (1987) and international standard 5349 (1986) greatly influences the apparent isolation effectiveness of gloves. With the frequency weighting, the gloves had little effect on the transmission of vibration to the hand from most of the tools. Only for two or three tools (those dominated by high frequency vibration) did any glove provide useful attenuation. Without the frequency weighting, some gloves showed useful attenuation of the vibration on most powered tools. CONCLUSIONS: In view of the uncertain effect of the vibration frequency in the causation of disorders from hand-transmitted vibration, it is provisionally suggested that the wearing of a glove by the user of a particular vibratory tool could be encouraged if the glove reduces the transmission of vibration when it is evaluated without the frequency weighting and does not increase the vibration when it is evaluated with the frequency weighting. A current international standard for the measurement and evaluation of the vibration transmitted by gloves can classify a glove as an antivibration glove when it provides no useful attenuation of vibration, whereas a glove providing useful attenuation of vibration on a specific tool can fail the test.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

Duration of acute exposures to vibration and finger circulation.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated changes in finger circulation after different durations of exposure to hand-transmitted vibration. METHODS: Finger skin temperature (FST), finger blood flow (FBF), and finger systolic blood pressure (FSBP) were measured in the middle fingers of both hands of 10 healthy men. Finger vascular resistance was also estimated. The right hand was exposed for 7.5, 15, and 30 minutes (static load 10 N) to 125-Hz vibration (root-mean-square acceleration 87 m/s2). Static load only was used as a control. Finger circulation was measured before the vibration and static load exposure and at fixed intervals during exposure and a 45-minute recovery period. RESULTS: No significant changes were found with the static load. The FST and FSBP did not change significantly during vibration exposure, whereas vibration produced significant reductions in FBF and increases in vascular resistance at each duration when compared with preexposure and contralateral (non-vibrated) finger values. Temporary vasodilation occurred in the vibrated finger immediately after each vibration exposure. Recovery was complete for FBF and vascular resistance after the 7.5-minute vibration, whereas a progressive FBF reduction occurred in both the vibrated and the nonvibrated fingers after 15- and 30-minute exposure. The longer the duration of vibration exposure, the stronger the vasoconstriction in the vibrated finger during recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Vasoregulatory mechanisms mediated by both intrinsic (local) and extrinsic (neural or endocrine) control systems seem to be related to digital circulatory changes during 125-Hz vibration. It is concluded that, not only the frequency and magnitude of vibration, but also its duration contributes to the reaction of the digital vessels to acute vibration.

Adult↗

Magnitude of acute exposures to vibration and finger circulation.

OBJECTIVES: Changes in finger circulation were studied during and after acute exposure to increasing magnitudes of hand-transmitted vibration. METHODS: Finger skin temperature (FST) and finger blood flow (FBF) were measured in the middle fingers of both hands of 10 healthy men. The right hand was exposed for 15 minutes to 125-Hz vibration with acceleration magnitudes of either 5.5, 22, 44, or 62 m/s2 root-mean-square. The measures of finger circulation were taken before the vibration, at fixed intervals during exposure, and during a 45-minute recovery period. RESULTS: The FST did not change during vibration exposure, whereas vibration of any magnitude provoked significant reductions in the FBF of the vibrated finger when compared with the preexposure FBF and the contralateral (nonvibrated finger) FBF. Vasoconstrictor aftereffects (i.e., during recovery) were observed in both fingers after the end of exposure to vibration magnitudes greater than 22 m/s2 root-mean-square. The higher the vibration magnitude, the stronger the reduction of FBF in either finger during both vibration exposure and the recovery period. This effect was stronger in the vibrated finger than in the nonvibrated finger during both periods. CONCLUSIONS: Acute exposure to 125-Hz vibration can reduce FBF in both the vibrated and the nonvibrated finger, and the degree of digital vasoconstriction is related to the magnitude of the vibration. The pattern of the hemodynamic changes during and after vibration exposure suggests that complex vasomotor mechanisms are involved in the response of digital vessels to acute vibration.

Adult↗

[The hand-arm vibration syndrome: (I) the clinical picture, exposure-response relationship and exposure limits].

Part I of this paper presents an overview of the medical aspects of the hand-arm vibration syndrome, as well as the relationship between occupational exposure to hand-transmitted vibration and the vascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal disorders occurring in the upper limbs of workers who use vibrating tools. There is epidemiologic evidence for an increased occurrence of peripheral sensorineural and vascular disorders in occupational groups using a great variety of vibrating tools. An excess risk for wrist osteoarthrosis and elbow arthrosis and osteophytosis has been reported in workers exposed to shocks and low frequency vibration of high magnitude from percussive tools. To date, the available epidemiologic data are insufficient to outline an exposure-response relationship for both sensorineural disturbances and bone and joint disorders caused by hand-transmitted vibration. The association between vibration white finger (VWF) and exposure to hand-transmitted vibration has been clearly established in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies of vibration-exposed workers. A proposal of exposure-response relationship for VWF is included in an annex to ISO 5349 (1986). However, the shape of the relationship between vibration exposure and VWF is not yet fully understood. The results of several epidemiologic studies seem to indicate that the current ISO frequency-weighting may be inappropriate for all types of vibration and for all kinds of vibration injury. Alternative exposure-response relationship for VWF have been suggested in recent epidemiologic investigations. Regarding exposure limits for hand-transmitted vibration, the findings of clinical and epidemiologic studies have shown that the vibration exposure levels proposed by the European Directive for physical agents are sufficiently protective for the safety and health of workers exposed to hand-transmitted vibration.

Arm Injuries↗

Human response to shock-type vibration on hand.

Points of subjective equality between continuous vibration and shock-type vibration (repeated vibration) were examined in hand-transmitted vibration to find a tendency of human response to shock-type vibration (repeated vibration with short duration). On time and off time of the repeated vibrations were changed from 10 ms to 5s. Each adjustment involved a 10 second exposure to the repeated vibration and subsequent 10 second exposure to the continuous vibration. Frequencies of the vibrations were 8, 16, 31.5 and 100 Hz. Subjective magnitude of the shock-type vibrations (repeated vibrations) decreased with increase of off-time and with decrease of on-time of the repeated vibrations. Results of this experiment were compared with calculated r.m.s. values, r.m.q. values and other quantity. R.m.s. values underestimated the repeated vibration and r.m.q. values overestimated the vibration compared with human responses.

Adolescent↗

Low-amplitude, broad-frequency vibration effects on cortical bone formation in mice.

Mechanical loading of the skeleton is necessary to maintain bone structure and strength. Large amplitude strains associated with vigorous activity typically result in the greatest osteogenic response; however, data suggest that low-amplitude, broad-frequency vibration results in new bone formation and may enhance adaptation through a stochastic resonance (SR) phenomenon. That is, random noise may maximally enhance bone formation to a known osteogenic stimulus. The aims of this study were to (1) assess the ability of different vibration signals to enhance cortical bone formation during short- and long-term loading and (2) determine whether vibration could effect SR in bone. Two studies were completed wherein several osteogenic loading waveforms, with or without an additive low-amplitude, broad-frequency (0-50 Hz) vibration signal, were applied to the mouse ulna in axial compression. In study 1, mice were loaded short-term (30 s/day, 2 days) with either a carrier signal alone (1 or 2 N sine waveform), vibration signal alone [0.1 N or 0.3 N root mean square (RMS)] or combined carrier and vibration signal. In study 2, mice were loaded long-term (30 s/day, 3 days/week, 4 weeks) with a carrier signal alone (static or sine waveform), vibration signal alone (0.02 N, 0.04 N, 0.08 N or 0.25 N RMS) or combined carrier and vibration signal. Sequential calcein bone labels were administered at 2 and 4 days and at 4 and 29 days after the first day of loading in study 1 and 2, respectively; bone formation parameters and changes in geometry were measured. Combined application of the carrier and vibration signals in study 1 resulted in significantly greater bone formation than with either signal alone (P < 0.001); however, this increase was independently explained by increased strain levels associated with additive vibration. When load and strain levels were similar across loading groups in study 2, cortical bone formation and changes in geometry were not significantly altered by vibration. Vibration alone did not result in any new bone formation. Our data suggest that low-amplitude, broad-frequency vibration superimposed onto an osteogenic waveform or vibration alone does not enhance cortical bone adaptation at the frequencies, amplitudes and loading periods tested.

Animals↗

Effect of four-month vertical whole body vibration on performance and balance.

PURPOSE: This randomized controlled study was designed to investigate the effects of a 4-month whole body vibration-intervention on muscle performance and body balance in young, healthy, nonathletic adults. METHODS: Fifty-six volunteers (21 men and 35 women, aged 19-38 yr) were randomized to either the vibration group or control group. The vibration-intervention consisted of a 4-month whole body vibration training (4 min.d(-1), 3-5 times a week) employed by standing on a vertically vibrating platform. Five performance tests (vertical jump, isometric extension strength of the lower extremities, grip strength, shuttle run, and postural sway on a stability platform) were performed initially and at 2 and 4 months. RESULTS: Four-month vibration intervention induced an 8.5% (95% CI, 3.7-13.5%, P=0.001) net improvement in the jump height. Lower-limb extension strength increased after the 2-month vibration-intervention resulting in a 3.7% (95% CI, 0.3-7.2%, P=0.034) net benefit for the vibration. This benefit, however, diminished by the end of the 4-month intervention. In the grip strength, shuttle run, or balance tests, the vibration-intervention showed no effect. CONCLUSION: The 4-month whole body vibration-intervention enhanced jumping power in young adults, suggesting neuromuscular adaptation to the vibration stimulus. On the other hand, the vibration-intervention showed no effect on dynamic or static balance of the subjects. Future studies should focus on comparing the performance-enhancing effects of a whole body vibration to those of conventional resistance training and, as a broader objective, on investigating the possible effects of vibration on structure and strength of bones, and perhaps, incidence of falls of elderly people.

Adult↗

Measurement, evaluation, and assessment of occupational exposures to hand-transmitted vibration.

The measurement of hand-transmitted vibration converts oscillatory movements to a form in which they can be evaluated with respect to human responses and assessed for their acceptability. This paper presents methods of measurement, evaluation, and assessment currently advocated in standards and other forms of guidance. The degree to which the methods of evaluating different frequencies, directions, and durations of vibration affect the assessment of vibration on different tools is illustrated. With the frequency weighting currently used to allow for the effects of different frequencies there is little need to measure vibration at frequencies as high as 1000 Hz; this has significant implications to the design and evaluation of proposed antivibration devices, including gloves. Without the current frequency weighting, vibration at frequencies greater than 250 Hz can contribute to the magnitude of the vibration, but many common causes of injury from hand-transmitted vibration have their dominant components of vibration below 250 Hz. On many powered tools, although the dominant frequency of vibration is the same before and after frequency weighting, the reported magnitude of vibration is greatly affected by the frequency weighting. On tools with dominant low frequencies, their vibration is rated as being of far greater importance relative to other tools when considering frequency-weighted acceleration than when considering unweighted acceleration. It is shown that the effect of considering three axes of vibration as opposed to one axis has a greater effect on some tools than on others. The uncertainties and assumptions involved in the measurement, evaluation, and assessment of hand-transmitted vibration are reviewed. It is suggested that whereas current decisions on health and welfare should be based on current assessment methods, the measurement and evaluation of hand-transmitted vibration should involve the collection and reporting of data which allow other interpretations in the future.

Cumulative Trauma Disorders↗

Acute vibration increases alpha2C-adrenergic smooth muscle constriction and alters thermosensitivity of cutaneous arteries.

The vascular symptoms of hand-arm vibration syndrome, including cold-induced vasospasm, are in part mediated by increased sensitivity of cutaneous arteries to sympathetic stimulation. The goal of the present study was to use a rat tail model to analyze the effects of vibration on vascular function and alpha-adrenoceptor (AR) responsiveness. Rats were exposed to a single period of vibration (4 h, 125 Hz, constant acceleration 49 m/s2 root mean square). The physical or biodynamic response of the tail demonstrated increased transmissibility or resonance at this frequency, similar to that observed during vibration of human fingers. Morphological analysis demonstrated that vibration did not appear to cause structural injury to vascular cells. In vitro analysis of vascular function demonstrated that constriction to the alpha1-AR agonist phenylephrine was similar in vibrated and control arteries. In contrast, constriction to the alpha2-AR agonist UK14304 was increased in vibrated compared with control arteries, both in endothelium-containing or endothelium-denuded arteries. The alpha2C-AR antagonist MK912 (3 x 10(-10) M) inhibited constriction to UK14304 in vibrated but not control arteries, reversing the vibration-induced increase in alpha2-AR activity. Moderate cooling (to 28 degrees C) increased constriction to the alpha2-AR agonist in control and vibrated arteries, but the magnitude of the amplification was less in vibrated compared with control arteries. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine was similar in control and vibrated arteries. Based on these results, we conclude that a single exposure to vibration caused a persistent increase in alpha2C-AR-mediated vasoconstriction, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of vibration-induced vascular disease.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

The use of vibration training to enhance muscle strength and power.

Vibration has been combined with conventional resistance training in an attempt to attain greater gains in neuromuscular performance than from conventional resistance training alone. Although there is a lack of strictly controlled studies on the vibration training effect, current findings in this area suggest that vibration may have a beneficiary acute and/or chronic training effect on strength and power enhancement. However, the effect of vibration on strength and power development appears dependent upon the vibration characteristics (method of application, amplitude and frequency) and exercise protocols (training type, intensity and volume) employed. Vibration amplitude and frequency determine the load that vibration imposes on the neuromuscular system. This vibration load should be in an optimal range to elicit strength and power enhancement. To activate the muscle most effectively, vibration frequency should be in the range of 30-50 Hz. It is less clear to what the optimal amplitude should be, but smaller amplitudes may be insufficient to elicit an enhancement. It should also be noted that the method of vibration application (i.e. vibration applied directly or indirectly to a targeted muscle) may have an influence on the magnitude of amplitude and frequency that are delivered to the muscle and, therefore, may have an influence on vibration training effect. The employment of a greater exercise intensity and volume within a vibration training programme may facilitate a larger enhancement in strength and power. In addition, benefits from vibration training may be greater in elite athletes than non-elite athletes. Further studies are required to examine these inter-dependencies, especially in relation to chronic adaptation to dynamic exercises, which are the most relevant response to practitioners, but where the least amount of research has been undertaken.

Exercise↗

Effects of fore-and-aft, lateral and vertical whole-body vibration on a head-positioning task.

BACKGROUND: The performance of tasks in which the head must be positioned close to objects in a moving vehicle may be impeded by the presence of vibration. HYPOTHESES: It was hypothesized that the extent to which a head positioning task would be impeded by whole-body vibration would depend on the frequency, direction and waveform of the vibration and the posture of the body. METHOD: There were 12 subjects who participated in a laboratory experiment in which they judged the difficulty of looking through a pair of sights while exposed to low frequency vibration. We investigated 4 variables: vibration axis (fore-and-aft, lateral, vertical), vibration frequency (11 frequencies in the range 0.5 to 5.0 Hz), vibration waveform (sinusoidal vibration, one-third octave bands of random vibration), seating condition (wearing a 4-point harness, sitting without back support). RESULTS: We found that all variables affected the perceived task difficulty. Frequencies of horizontal vibration in the range 1 to 4 Hz caused most difficulty. Task difficulty was greatest with random vibration, especially with low frequency vibration in the horizontal axes. The wearing of a 4-point harness greatly reduced the perceived task difficulty during exposure to low frequency fore-and-aft vibration but increased task difficulty with higher frequencies of lateral vibration. CONCLUSIONS: Increased motion predictability and the provision of suitable support to the upper body (e.g., a harness, back support, front support) can reduce the difficulty of head positioning tasks during exposure to some types of oscillatory motion.

Adult↗

Hand-arm vibration exposure of dentists.

OBJECTIVES: The use of dental handpieces exposes the dental personnel to high-frequency vibration. Dentists have been shown to have a high frequency of finger-related and other upper limb symptoms and a high prevalence of osteoarthrosis in the distal interphalangeal joints. METHODS: The vibration of 22 dental handpieces was measured during normal work with accelerometer. The weighted vibration according to the standard ISO 5349-1 and the total acceleration of high frequency vibration ("ultravibration") in the frequency range of 1.6-10 kHz were analyzed. In order to compare non-contact vibration measurement method for dental handpieces, vibration of 12 handpieces was measured during idling with Portable Digital Vibrometer and simultaneously with the accelerometer. A group of 295 female dentists aged 45-63 years responded to a questionnaire on working conditions, lifestyle, and health. RESULTS: The vibration measurements of air-turbine and micromotor handpieces showed that daily vibration exposure of dentists was below the exposure action value of the Vibration Directive of European Union. The highest vibration levels of the handpieces exist in the frequency range above 1,250 Hz. The traditional method and the laser method gave highly similar values. A long work history in dental filling and root treatment as well as high BMI seem to be associated with frequent finger symptoms perceived as vibration-related by the dentists. CONCLUSIONS: The vibration exposure of dentists is low determined according to European legislation. However, a long work history in dental filling and root treatment seems to be associated with the risk of frequent finger symptoms of dentists. Therefore, when "pinch-gripping" is used, the effects of vibration on fingers should be comprehensively studied.

Dental High-Speed Equipment↗