Whole-Body and Local Muscle Vibration Immediately Improve Quadriceps Function in Individuals With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

20 patients in rehabilitation following ACL reconstruction were randomized to receive whole-body vibration, local muscle vibration, and control therapy (no vibration) in a cross-over trial design. The purpose of this study was to compare the immediate effects of either vibration therapy protocol in terms of various electromyographic measurements. Results demonstrated that WBV and LMV had comparable and significant improvements in quadriceps muscle active motor threshold (AMT), central activation ratio (CAR), peak torque (PT), and stimulating intensity when compared to the control group immediately after the intervention. WBV additionally demonstrated significantly improved in quadriceps EMG when compared to the control. No significant differences between LMV and WBV were noted for any post-intervention comparison. Further RCTs are needed to determine if the inclusion of WBV or LMV in a rehabilitation program following ACL reconstruction can lead to improvements in function compared to standard rehabilitation.