Role of vibration and sound in Physiotherapy

In literature the therapeutic efficacy of vibrations applied to the human body is well known. Even music has recently been the subject of scientific researches. This single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial was carried out within the “Gabriele d'Annunzio” University, Chieti-Pescara. The objective was to verify whether the immediate effects on the body of combined acoustic and vibrational stimulations are more effective than simple musical listening. A vibro-acoustic platform was used, a tool that allows the patient to listen to sounds while perceiving the vibration caused by the music itself thanks to speakers placed under the whole body. One hundred healthy subjects were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group underwent a single session of a vibro-acoustic stimulation, while the control group underwent a single session with non-functioning vibration platform and acoustic stimulation. Vital parameters, mean body temperature variations, distribution of body fluids, muscular rheological parameters, appreciation of the therapy and subjective perceptions were evaluated. Positive but mixed improvement were obtained for the whole sample, making it difficult to determine whether the vibro-acoustic stimulation is better than simple acoustic stimulation for the considered parameters improvement. Further studies are needed to clarify which kind of stimulation leads to the best result.