Vibro Acoustic Devices

Early attempts at vibro acoustic therapy used large loud speakers pressed against bean bags that children were lying on. Patients lying on the bags felt the specific vibrations throughout their bodies. [Olav Skille]

Today’s vibro acoustic equipment varies from a small 8” square unit to full mattresses.

The equipment needs to be carefully constructed for this modality to be effective. It is more than just putting speakers in some foam or under a massage table. The low frequency sounds sent through the devices require specialized transducers and geometrically engineered resonance chambers that are mathematically arranged for the highest resonance of the body.

Remember, vibro acoustic therapy is a combination of low sinusoidal frequencies combined with appropriate music to affect a positive change in the mind/body/spirit of a person or animal. [The term Vibro Tactile therapy refers to just the use of music to induce relaxation.]

In VAT single frequencies that are played through a table/chair are formulated for specific purposes, i.e increasing oxygen in the body, or decreasing the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. When music is used, it is generally slow, harmonious, and relaxing and in complete synthesis with the frequencies.

The transducers vary in their Hz range and quality. Some products use a transducer that delivers a full range of sounds, others focus mainly on transducers that deliver a really powerful low section of bass sounds, and I use one that has both types of transducers.

Some of the current VAT designs include:

• personal pillow transducer
• portable mats
• massage tables
• reclining chairs
• lounges
• mattresses
• dental chair

You can find several here

Benefits of Vibro Acoustic Therapy

Over 1/3 of our brain stem is devoted to vibro tactile stimulation, i.e TOUCH. Our skin is the the largest organ of our body.

VA Therapy research has been found to be effective in treating:

• cardiac disease
• spasms/spasticity
• anxiety
• blood pressure
• ADD
• PTSD
• Autism
• neurological disorders
• pain disorders
• stress
• muscle and back issues
• and much more

Think of VAT sessions as taking a medication by ear, whole body, and cells all at the same time. Sometimes effects are immediate, other times it takes several sessions depending upon the depth of the issue.
Programs are specifically formulated to be played through these devices.
There are CDs formulated for headphones that can be listened to at home between sessions on the VA device.

Basis of Sound Therapy

These concepts provide the historical and presently accepted basis for sound therapy and vibrational healing.

• Everything is in vibration or constant motion - Principle of Vibration
• Resonance – every substance on earth and every bone, muscle, organ and microbe in the body has its own resonant frequency.
• The composite of the resonant frequencies in the body make up a signature vibration.
• When the body frequencies are in harmony, the body is healthy; when body frequencies are out of harmony, dis-ease results.
• Finding and balancing frequencies in the body re -establishes the rhythm or flow of energy in the body so that its natural processes can heal the body.
• Sounds produced by the voice, instruments or electro-mechanical devices can be used to balance frequencies in the body.

What is Vibroacoustic Therapy

Vibroacoustic Therapy combines the physical vibrations of relaxing music with the vibrations of specific Pulsed Low Frequency Sine Tones. It was first developed in the 1980’s by the Norwegian teacher, Olav Skille. He explored the use of Vibroacoustic stimulation for severely disabled children with whom he worked, by playing them music through large speakers pressed against a beanbag on which the children were lying. Skille discovered that the physical vibrations of sound could relax and stimulate the children and judging that bass frequencies had a particularly significant therapeutic effect, he combined the music with a pulsed low frequency sine tone.

It is more than just playing music with lots of low sounds that vibrate the specialized table/mat/chair/lounge.

Vibroacoustics may be defined as “the process of hearing sound vibrations through the body.”

This is accomplished through specially constructed chairs, treatment tables, or beds (some

with water) that are equipped with powerful speakers designed to vibrate the body with optimal

psychological and physical impact. Dr. Drew Pierson, a psychologist with electrical engineering

experience, notes that the purpose of vibroacoustics is to create tactile-soma integration.

He says, “The body holds emotional events in cellular memory. The use of vibration from

4.5–1800 Hz (primarily 8–180 Hz) has the effect of disengaging those resonant patterns that

seem to run in loops and fixate themselves in the body. Vibroacoustics change the bio-electrical

signature of the emotional imprint.”

Vibroacoustic music (VAM) resonates the body directly through nerves, skin, and bones.

Based on multiple transducers built into the furniture—located under the back, buttocks, and

legs—the sound is not directed to the ears. In fact, unless you wear headphones, the only

sounds you hear with your ears are the lowest frequencies of the soundtrack. According to

Dr. Pierson, the low sounds travel up from the vagus nerve to the reticular activating system,

touching all internal organs along the way. This is in complete contrast to how sound, heard

through the ear, travels down through the vagus nerve to the anus, attaching to almost all the

internal organs along the way. The vagus nerve is a very important conduit of sound waves

regardless of the direction.

You can learn more about VAT in my book: A Practitioner's Guide to Vibro Acoustic Therapy.