Abstract
This study investigated the influence of whole body vibration applied with low level of acceleration on humans during sleep onset. The characteristic vibration of electric trains was utilized along with 1/f fluctuation pattern. Sixteen healthy participants were exposed to three patterns of motion for 10 minutes using a reclining chair with the vibration capability. Pattern 1 consisted of continuous vertical vibration superimposed with intermittent horizontal vibration. Pattern 2 consisted of continuous horizontal vibration superimposed with intermittent vertical vibration. Pattern 3 which served as a reference for comparison was no vibration. Results obtained with patterns 1 and 2 can be summarized as follows: The sleep latency was shortened and the sleep amount defined as summation of the product of sleep stage and appearance time was increased. % change from baseline in R-R interval and the ECG CVR-R increased. Results suggest that whole body vibration with low level of acceleration induced the function of the parasympathetic nervous system leading to sleep.
