Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Low-Frequency Vibration (LFV) is a type of sound therapy used for relaxation and stress management. This study investigated the effects of LFV on heart rate variability (HRV), compared to a session without any vibrations (No-vibration) in healthy male participants. METHODS: Intra-individual comparative study: participants experienced two blinded 40-minutes sessions, separated by a week of wash-out period, a LFV and a No-vibration one, in a soundproof environment. HRV temporal and frequential parameters were measured before, during, and after each session. RESULTS: Both sessions showed a decrease in heart rate between pre-session (64.2 ± 1.9 and 61 ± 1.9 BPM) and during intervention (58.7 ± 2.1 and 58.6 ± 1.7). Only LFV was associated with enhanced HRV variables at 30 min post-intervention compared to pre-session (78.9 ± 15.1 u.a vs. 112.6 ± 27.8 u.a). LFV significantly increased parasympathetic activity, as evidenced by higher HRV variables measures 30 min post-session, compared to the No-vibration session (p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Vagal tone was improved 30 min after a LFV session in healthy active male participants, indicating its potential utility as a recovery modality. Further research is warranted to assess long-term effects and applications in diverse populations.