The Effect of Whole Body Vibration on Torque of Evertor and Invertor Muscles of Ankle in Low Arched Feet

Background and purpose: Medial longitudinal arch (MLA) posture of the foot is usually associated with increased risk of lower extremity injury. This study investigated the effect of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) on torque of evertor and invertor muscles of ankle in low arched foot. Materials and methods: The participants were 40 young, untrained adults (male and female) with flat foot. The subjects were randomly divided into a vibration group (n=20m, mean age=23.85±3.15, mean weight=70.00±12.94, mean BMI=24.85±3.69 and a control group (n=20m, mean age=22.8±1.73, mean weight=72.14±12.53, mean BMI=24.59±3.99). Eversion and inversion isokinetic torque of ankle were measured at speeds of 30/s and 120/s before and after 6 weeks of WBV in both groups and 4 weeks after the end of last training session in intervention group. We also measured the maximum changes in concentric torque of invertor and evertor muscles of ankle. Results: T-test and repeated ANOVA revealed significant increase in concentric torque of evertor muscles of ankle in 30/s and 120/s in interventional group compared with that of the control group (P<0.05). But no significant difference was found in other contractions. The effect of intervention continued after four weeks (P>0.05)