The Influence of Passive Local Muscle Vibration on Mechanical Power Output and Neuromuscular Activity During Counterbalanced RPE-clamped Cycling: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The perception of physical exertion (RPE - Rate of Perceived Exertion), most commonly quantified using the Borg scale, constitutes a key neurophysiological mechanism regulating the intensity and duration of human locomotor activity. Traditional models of peripheral fatigue assumed that the exercise capacity limit is directly determined by the homeostatic depletion of muscular energy reserves. However, contemporary sports neurophysiology, drawing on the concept of the Central Governor Model, demonstrates that the central nervous system is the ultimate guardian of human performance.

In this context, a crucial role is played by the phenomena of proprioception and somatosensory signaling generated by musculo-tendinous mechanoreceptors, specifically muscle spindles. These spindles are sensitive to changes in muscle length and the rate of these changes, sending continuous feedback to the CNS via the ascending pathways of the spinal cord. The brain compares these signals with an internal template of motor intention, the so-called efference copy, which serves as a neurological equivalent of the expected energetic expenditure. The convergence or divergence of these two information streams directly shapes the final perception of RPE. Studies from last year (Marchand et al., 2025), upon which our medical experiment is based, proved that this mechanism can be effectively modulated non-pharmacologically using passive, high-frequency mechanostimulation. Applying mechanical vibrations with a frequency of 100 Hz and an amplitude of approximately 1 mm to the tendons induces a phenomenon of neurophysiological receptor jamming. The intense vibration triggers a torrent of proprioceptive impulses, leading to the suppression of spinal reflexes and the attenuation of reaferent signals sent from the muscle spindles to the brain. Consequently, the CNS interprets the movement as "energetically cheaper" and easier. Laboratory studies indicate that decoupling the actual mechanical load from the perception of exertion allows for an increase in actual power output (by up to approximately 20% during submaximal effort) without a simultaneous increase in the subjective feeling of fatigue. Moreover, vibration exhibits protective properties against neuromuscular fatigue, stabilizing exercise parameters in the late stages of training.

This project aims to translate these fundamental laboratory discoveries into applied conditions. Previous research protocols relied on stationary, electrodynamic exciters that required complete immobilization of the subject's limb and the application of vibration in a specific position while stabilizing the exciter, which limited their utility in sports. The answer to this limitation is an interdisciplinary project by the Wrocław University of Science and Technology - a proprietary prototype of the Tendo wearable vibration band. By applying physical parameters identical to laboratory equipment (100 Hz), this device offers full mobility and makes this technology accessible to every athlete.

To precisely verify the research hypothesis and determine the basis of the observed changes, the project involves a three-dimensional diagnostic approach combining neurological, biomechanical, and structural assessments.

The project's results have the potential to revolutionize training support methods, optimize post-exercise neuromuscular recovery, and protect athletes from musculoskeletal overloads, offering the academic and sporting communities a fully safe, scientifically validated, and mobile stimulation tool.