Whole Body Vibration and Bachial Plexus Injuries

I was recently asked by a colleague of mine who is a physical therapist for a professional team in the English Premier League a question on whole body vibration:

"I have had several instances of burners or stingers sustained during competition shortly after athletes participated in WBV stretches. Any thoughts?"

Since I myself, am not the expert on whole body vibration, I immediately asked Charlie Weingroff for assistance. Here was his response:

"If the suggestion is that stretching on WBV caused stingers, it is possible.

1) If they are using vertical vibration, it is very reasonable that there was some level of CNS depressions that denigtrated motor control prior to the event. Exposure to head acceleration can dampen motor control or any aspect of performance or prevention. If they used rotational vibration or low intensity on vertical, this senario is not as likely.

2) Stretching with WBV can mean a few things. If you are in a typical lengthened position on the platform, you are putting the muscle on stretch, but you are actually facilitating that muscle to contract. I wouldn't think that would lead to a stinger, but if you are doing something that you don't think you're doing, it may cloud the training session's goals. In order to achieve potential length or decrease tone prior to a static or dynamic "stretch," the muscle in question should be on slack when loaded to the platform. This is counter-intuitive, yes, but that is how you inhibit muscle tone using WBV.

3) Assuming stingers/burners is referring to the upper extremity, using the platform for excitation in a plank or push-up in a poor pattern will only further cement the bad pattern. WBV can be powerful in a corrective format in terms of reloading the pattern, but it can be just as powerful in reloading poor form. It may feel or even retest better initially from increased blood flow, but this is a fake.

4) In all honesty, this is probably coincidence, but it is all the more reason to not trust vertical vibration platforms if that is what they're using. In Europe, rotational platforms are far more prevalent as they are in America."

For more information on whole body vibration, please contact Dr. Weingroff directly or read this post that he wrote a while back (please remember that this post might be a bit dated so for clarification, don't be afraid to send him an email.

For more information on neurovascular / brachial plexus conditions of the shoulder, feel free to read this review.