Introduction: The hand is an important part of the upper limb that does not function in isolation from the adjacent joints and plays an important role from in both senzorics and motor terms, as we use our hands for many tasks in daily life. Sufficient muscle power, mobility and dexterity are required for optimal hand function. When muscle performance declines for any reason, the individual feels it primarily through decreased hand function and the inability to perform everyday tasks. Whole-body vibration has repeatedly been showen to be an effective therapy in increasing muscle performance through exercise. These effects have been demonstrated primarily in the lower limbs and in patients. However, little is known about the effects of vibration on upper limb muscle performance in healthy individuals. Purpose: The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of whole-body vibration on upper limb muscle strength in a sample of young, healthy individuals. Methods: 30 students from the Faculty of Health, with an average age of 20.9 years participated in the study. Muscle strength of the dominant hand was measured with a dynamometer in a seated position. Whole-body vibration was performed in a push-up position with the hands on the vibration plate at a frequency of 30 Hz. Vibrations lasted 30 seconds, 5 repetitions with 30 second rest between each intervention. Before and immediately after the procedure, we performed 3 measurements with a dynamometer. Statistical analyzes were performed using the Microsoft Excel program. Results: The results of the measurement showed that the whole-body vibration had an effect on increasing the muscle strength of the handgrip in both men and women, but the differences in the results in men were insignificant. Discussion and conclusion: Based on the results, we can conclude that whole-body vibration has been shown to improve hand muscle strength.
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