Superimposed vibration on suspended push-ups

Introduction

Combining different strength training methods is an increasingly used strategy to reach sports performance and competitive advantages. The synergistic effect of recruiting prime movers, antagonists, and stabilizers, justifies the use of complex exercises that present instability (La Scala Teixeira et al., 2019). This effect can be even more important in sports, where perturbed tasks constitute the essence of their specificity (Behm & Anderson, 2006). The upper body muscles can benefit from instability, especially in overhead disciplines, such as handball, water polo or hockey, and gymnastic sports, continuously demanding precise, powerful, complex, and unidirectional actions. Acting as a pendulum by rotating around a singular anchor point above, suspension training uses its essential characteristics (vector resistance, stability, and pendulum) and body weight to enhance neuromuscular demands (Bettendorf, 2010).

Complex tasks involving instability have been combined with mechanical vibrations to increase its neuromuscular demands in the past (Cloak et al., 2013; Marín & Hazell, 2014; Ritzmann et al., 2014; Sierra-Guzmán et al., 2018; Aguilera-Castells et al., 2019; Aguilera-Castells et al., 2021). Vibratory training transfers vibration on the muscle to elicit the tonic vibration reflex (Cardinale & Bosco, 2003). Superimposing vibration can alter the motor unit recruitment, activating faster and larger motor units (Martin & Park, 1997; Xu et al., 2018), thus reinforcing the possible benefits of using those devices in standard training methods (Cardinale & Wakeling, 2005). Whole-body vibration (WBV) applied through platforms is the most studied vibrating method to provoke acute neuromuscular effects (Cardinale & Lim, 2003; Rønnestad, 2009a; Rønnestad, 2009b) and long-term adaptations (Gollhofer, 2010; Manimmanakorn et al., 2014). In contrast, other studies demonstrated no significant chronic effects of vibration in parallel squat 1RM (Rønnestad et al., 2012) and elbow flexion 1RM (Drummond et al., 2014). Nevertheless, several devices superimposed vibration on barbells (Poston et al., 2007; Mischi & Cardinale, 2009; Moras et al., 2010; Xu, Rabotti & Mischi, 2013), dumbbells (Bosco, Cardinale & Tsarpela, 1999; Cochrane & Hawke, 2007), and cables (Issurin & Tenenbaum, 1999; Issurin et al., 2010) have also been designed to transfer vibratory stimuli to the upper body. Mischi & Cardinale (2009) reported significantly higher muscle activity in arm muscles when performing the isometric V exercise. Moras et al. (2010) have demonstrated the acute effects of superimposing vibration in a bench press in the prime movers, especially during flexion. Poston et al. (2007) showed a greater bench press average power in a vibrating condition, although they did not assess muscle activity. The authors superimposed the vibrating engine on the barbell side. Similarly, Xu, Rabotti & Mischi (2015) prototyped a bench to combine the effect of muscle tension and vibration on muscle activation, demonstrating the benefits of using an adaptive normalized least mean square algorithm to determine the real effects of superimposed vibration on the biceps brachii. Lately, vibration has been superimposed on a suspension device in lower limb exercises (Aguilera-Castells et al., 2021). When performing dynamic supine bridges and hamstring curls, surface electromyography reflected a higher activity of the muscles proximal to the straps (gastrocnemius medialis, lateralis, and semitendinosus). However, the effect on the primary movers was non-significant.

Beyond the physiological markers, reporting the perception of how hard the load is lifted has been a recurrent method to guide and monitor the strength training programs. For this purpose, OMNI Perceived Exertion Scale for Resistance Exercise (OMNI-Res) has been developed by Robertson et al. (2003) and validated in several strength and conditioning contexts with promising results (Robertson et al., 2005; Lagally & Robertson, 2006; Colado et al., 2012; Bautista et al., 2014; Buscà et al., 2020). Indeed, the mentioned studies reported that the scale is strongly connected to 1RM, muscle activity, or total weight lifted in different training environments. Furthermore, other studies have demonstrated the increased exertion perception performing the exercises under vibration conditions (Marín et al., 2012a; Marín et al., 2012b; Aguilera-Castells et al., 2021).

Therefore, the main objective of the present study was to examine the effects of vibration on muscle activity in dynamic suspended push-ups. It was hypothesized that the superimposed vibration on the suspension straps might obtain higher muscle activity than the suspended condition without vibration. It was also hypothesized that the OMNI-Res perceived exertion scale for resistance exercise would be higher in the vibration exercises than the non-vibrating exercises.

Materials & Methods

Design

A cross-sectional study design investigated the effects of a suspension device with superimposed vibration on upper body muscle activity. Participants performed suspended push-ups in non-vibration, vibration at 25 Hz and 40 Hz. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to record and compare the activity of the right and left external oblique, anterior deltoid, triceps brachii, and sternal and clavicular heads of the pectoralis major. sEMG values were expressed as a percentage of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (% MVIC). Furthermore, the perceived exertion was assessed using the OMNI-Perceived Exertion Scale for Resistance Exercise (OMNI-Res) under all suspended push-ups conditions (Fig. 1).

Procedures

A familiarization session was held one week before the testing sessions. Participants were instructed to perform the suspended push-ups with proper technique in the different conditions (non-vibration, vibration at 25 Hz and 40 Hz) in two sets of five repetitions. Anthropometric (e.g., weight, height, acromion distance) and training experience data were collected. The test session was carried out a week later and at the same time in the morning. Researchers cleaned the electrode site with alcohol, shaving the skin area when necessary, thus placing the surface electrodes (Biopac EL504 disposable Ag-AgCl; BIOPAC System, Inc., Goleta, CA) on the external oblique (left and right), anterior deltoid, triceps brachii, sternal and clavicular portion of pectoralis major on the dominant upper limb (Criswell & Cram, 2011). A reference electrode over the iliac crest was placed and all electrodes were placed at an inter-electrode distance of two cm following the SENIAM guidelines (Hermens et al., 2000). Next, a standardized warm-up consisting of 10 min of dynamic upper body calisthenics and two sets of eight repetitions of strict push-ups on the floor was performed. Then, participants executed a maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) test for the right and left external oblique, anterior deltoid, triceps brachii, and the sternal and clavicular head of the pectoralis major. The MVIC values were used as a baseline to normalize the sEMG signal (Halaki & Ginn, 2012). After the normalization protocols, participants completed a set of five dynamic repetitions for each push-up condition in a randomized order. The standardized suspended push-up technique consisted of holding the legs at shoulder-width apart, the hands separated at 150% of the acromial distance, in a pronated position, and grabbing the suspension strap handles (TRX Suspension Trainer; Fitness Anywhere, San Francisco, CA, USA). Throughout the exercise, participants were instructed to maintain the lower back natural sway. For the lower position during the suspended push-up conditions, the elbow flexion was standardized at 90° and measured using a goniometer. Customized stoppers (similar to hurdles) were used to control the elbow flexion and 150% acromial width. Participants began the suspended push-up in the upper position (elbow extension) with a plantar flexion over the plumb line between the anchor point of the suspension strap and the ground. Participants flexed their elbows to 90° (lower position) in this position, then pushed with their hands on the handles to extend their elbows and return to the upper position (Fig. 2). The length of the suspension strap was standardized at 1.64 m, and the inclination ranged from 20° to 33° (mean ± SD: 26.5° ± 3.5). A positional transducer (WSB 16k-200; ASM Inc., Moosinning, DEU) was used to control the range of movement in each suspended push-up condition. The positional transducer tether was attached to the chest. The measured signal was used to identify the beginning and end of each repetition and determine the eccentric phase (lower position) and the concentric phase (upper position) of the suspended push-up. The pace of the push-up repetitions was standardized using a metronome settled at 60 beats per minute (1 s per phase). Furthermore, all participants were given two-minute rest for each suspended push-up attempt. Those repetitions that did not follow the standard technique established by the researchers were repeated with two-minute rest between attempts. All participants were asked about the possible discomfort from the vibration exposure on the head or other body regions. None of them reported discomfort.

A vibration device provided the superimposed vibration on the suspension straps for suspension training settled at two frequencies (25 Hz and 40 Hz) with an amplitude of eight mm (peak to peak). The device was attached between the ceiling anchor point and the suspension strap to transmit the vibration through the straps using a connecting rod’s vertical motion caused by an electric motor’s rotary motion.

Results

The normalized sEMG (% MVIC) values for each analyzed muscles under suspended push-ups conditions for concentric and eccentric phase are shown in Table 1, with the fixed effect of the exercise condition on muscle activity. For the concentric phase, the suspended push-ups with superimposed vibration (25 Hz and 40 Hz) showed a significant higher activity on left (25 Hz: p = 0.036, d = 0.34; 40 Hz: p = 0.003, d = 0.48) and right external oblique (25 Hz: p = 0.004, d = 0.36; 40 Hz: p = 0.000, d = 0.59), anterior deltoid (25 Hz: p = 0.032, d = 0.44; 40 Hz: p = 0.003, d = 0.64) and global activity (25 Hz: p = 0.000, d = 0.55; 40 Hz: p = 0.000, d = 0.83) compared to non-vibration condition. Superimposed vibration at 25 Hz on the suspension strap provoked a significant small increase on the sternal head of pectoralis major compared to non-vibration condition (p = 0.007, d = 0.39). For triceps brachii and clavicular head of pectoralis major a significant small increase on activity was found under suspended push-up at 40 Hz compared to non-vibration condition (p = 0.007 d = 0.47, p = 0.000 d = 0.60; respectively). Moreover, the standardized differences at 90% CI for the suspended push-ups conditions are represented as forest plots (Figs. 3 and 4). For the eccentric phase, superimposed vibration (25 Hz and 40 Hz) significantly increased left (25 Hz: p = 0.034, d = 0.41; 40 Hz: p = 0.002, d = 0.53) and right external oblique (25 Hz: p = 0.024, d = 0.33; 40 Hz: p = 0.000, d = 0.64), and the sternal head of pectoralis major activity (25 Hz: p = 0.013, d = 0.35; 40 Hz: p = 0.000, d = 0.51) compared to suspended push-up without vibration. Additionally, a significant small increase of right external oblique activity was found under suspended push-up at 40 Hz, in comparison with superimposed vibration at 25 Hz (p = 0.035, d = 0.29).

Figure 5 shows the OMNI-Res comparison under suspended push-up conditions. A significant main effect was found on suspended push-up conditions on OMNI-Res [X²(2) = 26.805 p = 0.000]. The perceived subjective exertion (OMNI-Res) was significantly higher for suspended push-ups at 25 Hz (6.04 ± 0.32, p = 0.000 d = 4.03 CI = 3.27, 4.79) and 40 Hz (6.21 ± 0.36, p = 0.000 d = 4.29 CI = 3.49, 5.08) compared to non-vibration (4.75 ± 0.32). A non-significant difference on OMNI-Res was found between suspended push-ups at 25 Hz and 40 Hz (p = 0.867, d = 0.50 CI = 0.05, 0.94).

Discussion

The present study showed that superimposing vibration to an upper limb suspended push-up is beneficial, increasing the analyzed muscles’ global activity. This primary finding reinforces the evidence that combining different strength methods can elicit superior muscular demands (Poston et al., 2007; Mischi & Cardinale, 2009; Moras et al., 2010; Xu, Rabotti & Mischi, 2013). These results can be relevant for coaches and practitioners trying to optimize the time spent in strength and conditioning practices, especially in team-sport settings where time devoted to sessions is limited in-season.

Push-up is one of the most used upper body exercises in sports training. Moreover, it has become even more popular since several authors (Snarr et al., 2013; Calatayud et al., 2014a) have demonstrated that push-ups can be more challenging under suspension or using unstable environments (Calatayud et al., 2014b; De Araújo et al., 2020). In the present study, no comparison was performed between traditional and suspended push-ups; nevertheless, it was hypothesized that the combination of vibration and suspension increases the activation of the primary push-up movers and, probably, the stabilizers of the action. The hypothesis was mainly confirmed in all the analyzed muscles, especially in the concentric phase at 40 Hz. Several authors have demonstrated differentiated effects depending on vibration frequencies, mainly in lower body muscles (Hazell, Jakobi & Kenno, 2007; Di Giminiani et al., 2013). However, the effects on the upper body muscles are still unclear. In this vein, the addition of vibration at a higher rate of frequencies tested (30–40 Hz) has been shown as an activity enhancer in this and similar exercises performed in a vibration plate (Ashnagar et al., 2016; Grant et al., 2019). Thus, superimposing vibration seems to be a proper strategy to enhance muscle activity in a suspended push-up. However, no significant differences were found between 25 Hz and 40 Hz when overall muscle activity was considered.

The anterior deltoid is the most differentially demanded muscle under superimposed vibration (Grant et al., 2019) or oscillatory vibration exercises (Arora et al., 2013). Its role as a prime mover of shoulder adduction and stabilizer of the shoulder joint, together with the proximity to the vertical plane of the vibration transmission, might explain this finding (Aguilera-Castells et al., 2021). Furthermore, body inclination (20° to 33°), type of grip, and angle between the straps and the floor reinforce the role of the anterior deltoid in stabilizing the shoulder. However, this muscle is less active under unstable conditions (Calatayud et al., 2014b; Borreani et al., 2015; Youdas et al., 2020). As contributors to arm flexo-extension and shoulder adduction, these two muscle heads are close to the vertical plane and proximal to vertical vibration transmitted through the suspension strap. The activity of the anterior deltoid is probably not enough to dampen vibration. Both heads of the pectoralis major have the additional work to perform and stabilize the suspended dynamic push-up, especially the clavicular head at 40 Hz (Fig. 4) closer to the vibration point. Furthermore, the technique used in this study, with straps situated inside the grip, could explain the present findings. Indeed, this type of grip, with less distance between the two handles, makes the action more unstable, and the main involved muscles are overstimulated by the effect of vibration (Aguilera-Castells et al., 2019). This might also be the case with triceps brachii at 40 Hz. If superimposed vibration improves the quality of the strength exercises that recruit this muscle by raising the muscle activation, this effect could potentially help to reduce injuries in overhead athletes. Deltoids are synergists of the rotator cuff muscles; these muscles are typically torn by overuse when athletes present shoulder impingement (Page, 2011), one of the most frequent injuries in these disciplines.

Although the action plane of this muscle during most of the range of movement is not vertical, the action of the triceps brachii before the complete extension of the arm at the end of the concentric phase is aligned with the vertical transmission of vibration and thus overstimulated. The effect is even more apparent in the adducted technique proposed in the present study (Cogley et al., 2005). This conclusion agrees with Moras et al. (2010) comparing the vibration effects of pushing a vibratory bar and Mischi & Cardinale (2009) pushing an electromagnetic arm actuator involving biceps and triceps brachii. Both studies used frequencies around 30 Hz.

According to Chen et al. (2019), in the present study, both external obliques were significantly higher stimulated with the superimposition of vibration. The external oblique is located on the lateral and anterior parts of the abdomen. It is a broad, thin, and irregularly quadrilateral muscle whose muscular portion holds the side. Its aponeurosis is in the anterior wall of the abdomen, and the anterior internal oblique is deep below the anterior external oblique. Thus, in contrast to other studies where no effects were found for the most distal muscles from the vibration exposure point (Aguilera-Castells et al., 2021), the present findings evidenced the increased activation of abdominals (Wirth, Zurfluh & Müller, 2011). The superior fatigue of the core muscles induced by the vibration, especially in suspended exercises, might be a relevant factor (Behm et al., 2010; Mok et al., 2015). Indeed, core muscles need to use more energy to maintain posture in an unstable environment, and muscle activity increases (Cuğ et al., 2012; Panza et al., 2014). Again, the role of core muscles in athletic performance and injury prevention it is not negligible (Cissik, 2011). Higher activation of these muscles by means of superimposed vibration may have a superior protective effect in athletes at risk.

OMNI-Res results showed a significant increase in effort perception in both vibration frequencies for the non-vibration condition. Similarly, Marín et al. (2012b) found significant increased RPE when performing a squat + biceps curl on a WBV platform and Aguilera-Castells et al. (2021) in suspended supine bridge and hamstring curl superimposing vibration. The authors found significant OMNI-Res increases in all vibration conditions in this work. This finding suggests that the superimposition of vibration is always perceived as a more demanding condition (Marín et al., 2012a).

The present study investigated a limited variety of vibration frequencies. Although the used frequencies are the most studied, lower to 25 Hz and higher than 40 Hz should be considered for future research. In addition, the number of sEMG channels limited the number of muscles analyzed. Thus, one could have observed the role played by other allegedly secondary muscles during the different phases of the push-up exercise. Indeed, the cocontraction phenomenon between agonists and antagonists of an unstable upper limb task (Behm & Anderson, 2006) can be explored when adding the additional stimulus provided by the vibratory system (Rodríguez Jiménez et al., 2015). Since the exercise was dynamic, the wired system used for the sEMG assessment and its compatibility with the suspended push-up forced the investigators to choose a proper technique for avoiding electrode removals. For this reason, the effects of vibration found in the studied push-up technique might not be generalized to other types of execution. The present study was conducted with trained individuals. All of them experienced in suspension training and with total movement control, even under vibrating conditions. However, this might not happen in less experienced populations, where motion control should be guaranteed. Other protocols used accelerometers for this purpose (Buscà et al., 2020).

Conclusions

Superimposing vibration seems to be a proper strategy to enhance muscle activity in suspended push-ups. 25 Hz and 40 Hz frequencies provoked similar effects on global activity, and all the muscles analyzed, except in triceps brachii and anterior deltoid in the eccentric phase. Nevertheless, no differences were found between the two frequencies, except in the right external oblique. Vibration also led to a higher value of subjective perception of exertion (OMNI-Res), but no differences were found between the two tested frequencies.