Comparison of the Effect of Static Stretching Exercises and Vibration on Postural Stability Indices in Healthy Women

Stretching exercises with stimulation of proprioceptors and increasing flexibility of soft tissues and vibration with stimulation of proprioceptors can play an important role in improving postural stability. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of static stretching exercises and vibration on postural stability indices in healthy women. This clinical trial was performed in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in 2011. Forty-five healthy female students were selected through available sampling and they were randomly assigned into three equal groups. The first group received 5 seconds duration static stretching exercises for 4 weeks، 5 sessions per week، and each session lasting 20 minutes. The second group received vibration with moderate pressure، high- frequency range، 2500 cycles per minute with the same dosage as the first group. The control group did not receive any protocol. Before and after the intervention، overall anteroposterior، and mediolateral stability indices were measured by Biodex Balance System in different positions. Paired t-test and one-way ANOVA were used for data analyses. In static stretching group، overall stability index in right unilateral standing with eyes open decreased from 5. 08±0. 44 to 4. 98±0. 44 (p=0. 027)، and mediolateral stability index in bilateral standing with eyes closed decreased from 1. 90±0. 36 to 1. 75±0. 32 (p=0. 006). All stability indices decreased in vibration group (p<0. 001). However، before and after the intervention، no significant differences was found across the groups regarding all the study variables (p>0. 05). The results showed that vibration increases postural stability in the majority of the studied balance situations.