Relaxing, rejuvenating and therapeutic massage therapy for your body and spirit

Vibroacoustic therapy (VAT) is a holistic, noninvasive technique that uses audible sound waves and vibrations to ease acute and chronic pain, as well as several additional conditions and symptoms. VAT uses transducers to convert sound frequencies into mechanical vibrations and then deliver these vibrations directly to a person’s body. Modern vibroacoustic therapy dates to the 1970's when mental health experts and inventors in Finland, Norway, and the United States developed various tools and devices for incorporating sound waves into treatment.

Although the development of this technique occurred relatively recently, music and vibrations have been used for medical and mental health purposes for centuries. For example, as described in a September 2009 article in the journal Psychiatry, ancient Egyptians employed musical incantations as a means of healing sick people. The Psychiatry article also noted that Aristotle wrote about the beneficial effects of sound prior to 300 BC.

Sessions of vibroacoustic therapy include lying on the specially equipped, comfortable table  that produces both sounds and vibrations of a certain frequency. When the devices are activated, the patient will hear the sounds and feel the vibrations that are similar to a “sound bath”  with relaxing music, sounds and vibrations that emanate from various instruments, such as tuning forks or singing bowls and sounds of Nature. This technique is based on the belief that sound waves that fall within certain frequency ranges may enhance circulation, trigger the release of neurotransmitters, stimulate nerve cells, and otherwise promote healing reactions throughout the body.

As we noted earlier in this post, vibroacoustic therapy is often used to alleviate both acute and chronic pain. However, these are by no means the only conditions that may be improved by this technique. Examples of other disorders and symptoms that have been treated with vibroacoustic therapy include:

• Muscle tension related to stress or anxiety
• Sleep disorders or disrupted sleep patterns
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The many potential benefits of vibroacoustic stimulation include:

• Easing of physical tension
• Stress relief
• Better quality of sleep
• Elevated mood
• Pain reduction
• Increased flexibility and range of motion
• Lowered heart rate and blood pressure
• Improved circulation
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Another benefit of vibroacoustic therapy is that it poses minimal risk of side effects for qualified patients. Prior to starting vibroacoustic therapy, your healthcare provider should ensure that you don’t have conditions or characteristics that would disqualify you for this service, such as a pacemaker, hypotension (low blood pressure), or deep vein thrombosis.

If you have questions about this type of treatment, don’t hesitate to discuss them with your doctor or therapist.