Sound Healing Research

Sound healing instruments produce sonic waves with mixed frequencies mostly between 30 and 5000 Hz.  

The vibrations which are produced lie within a frequency range that can be directly felt at the point of contact and in the surrounding area. 

In this sense, sound healing can be regarded as local vibration therapy without the use of electrical devices.  

The deep penetrative effect of sound (phonon) wave treatment can be attained by both direct application to the bone and to relatively soft tissue.

References

GENERAL NEUROLOGY

• Marconi B., Filippi G.M., Koch G., Giacobbe V., Pecchioli C., Versace V., Camerota F., Saraceni V.M. & Caltagirone C. (2011). Long-term effects on cortical excitability and motor recovery induced by repeated muscle vibration in chronic stroke patients.  Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. 25(1):48-60.
• Murillo N., Valls-Sole J., Vidal J., Opisso E., Medina J. & Kumru H. (2014).   Focal vibration in neurorehabilitation.  European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. 50:231-42.
• Tavernese E., Paoloni M., Mangone M., Mandic V., Sale P., Franceschini M. & Santilli V. (2013). Segmental muscle vibration improves reaching movement in patients with chronic stroke. A randomised controlled trial.   NeuroRehabilitation. 32(3):591-9.

SPASTICITY 

• Caliandro P., Celletti C., Padua L., Minciotti I., Russo G., Granata G., La Torre G., Granieri E. & Camerota F. (2012). Focal muscle vibration in the treatment of upper limb spasticity: a pilot randomised controlled trial in patients with chronic stroke.  Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 93(9):1656-61.
• Camerota F., Celletti C., Don R., Nucci F. (2013). Preliminary evidence of the efficacy of the repetitive muscle vibration therapy in chronic foot drop.   Acupuncture and Related Therapies. 1(2-3): 27-30.
• Casale R., Damiani C., Maestri R., Fundaro C., Chimento P. & Foti C. (2014). Localized 100 Hz vibration improves function and reduces upper limb spasticity: a double-blind controlled study.   European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. 50:495-504.
• Hagbarth K.E. & Eklund G. (1968) The effects of muscle vibration in spasticity, rigidity, and cerebellar disorders.   Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry. 31(3):207-13.
• Liepert J. & Binder C. (2010). Vibration-induced effects in stroke patients with spastic hemiparesis--a pilot study.   Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience. 28(6):729-35.
• Lin H.N., Nagaoka M., Hayashi Y. & Hatori K. (2012). Effect of vibration stimulation on dysbasia of spastic paraplegia in neuromyelitis optica: a possible example of neuronal plasticity.   BMJ Case Reports. 10.1136/bcr-2012-006793.
• Murillo N., Kumru H., Vidal-Samso J., Benito J., Medina J., Navarro X. & Valls-Sole J. (2010). Decrease of spasticity with muscle vibration in patients with spinal cord injury.  Clinical Neurophysiology. 122(6):1183- 9.
• Murillo N., Valls-Sole J., Vidal J., Opisso E., Medina J. & Kumru H. (2014). Focal vibration in neurorehabilitation.  European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. 50:231-42.
• Noma T., Matsumoto S., Shimodozono M., Etoh S. & Kawahira K. (2012). Anti-spastic effects of the direct application of vibratory stimuli to the spastic muscles of hemiplegic limbs in post-stroke patients: a proof-of-principles study.   Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 44:325-330.
• Paoloni M., Giovannelli M., Mangone M., Leonardi L., Tavernese E., Pangrazio di E., Bernetti A., Santilli V. & Pozilli C. (2013). Does giving segmental muscle vibration alter the response to botulinum toxin injections in the treatment of spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis? A single-blind randomised controlled trial.   Clinical Rehabilitation. 27(9):803812.
• Paoloni M., Mangone M., Scettri P., Procaccianti R., Cometa A. & Santilli V. (2010). Segmental muscle vibration improves walking in chronic stroke patients with foot drop: a randomized controlled trial.  Neurorehabilitation and Neural Repair. 24(3):254-62.

CEREBRAL PALSY 

• Celletti C. & Camerota F. (2011). Preliminary evidence of focal muscle vibration effects on spasticity due to cerebral palsy in a small sample of Italian children.   Clinical Therapeutics. 162(5):125-128.
• Eklund G. & Steen M. (1969). Muscle vibration therapy in children with cerebral palsy.   Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 1(1):35-37.
• Katusic A., Alimovic S. & Mejaski-Bosnjak V. (2013). The effect of vibration therapy on spasticity and motor function in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.  NeuroRehabilitation. 32(1):1-8.

NEGLECT

• Johannsen L., Ackermann H. & Karnath H.O. (2003). Lasting amelioration of spatial neglect by treatment with neck muscle vibration even without concurrent training.   Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 35(6):249-53.
• Kamada K., Shimodozono M., Hamada H. & Kawahira K. (2011). Effects of 5 minutes of neck-muscle vibration immediately before occupational therapy on unilateral spatial neglect.   Disability and Rehabilitation. 33(23-24):2322-2328.
• Karnath H.O., Christ K., Hartje W. (1993). Decrease of contralateral neglect by neck muscle vibration and spatial orientation of trunk midline.   Brain. 116:383–96.
• Karnath H.O, Reich E., Rorden C., et al. (2002). The perception of body orientation after neck-proprioceptive stimulation: effects of time and of visual cueing.   Experimental Brain Research. 143:350–8.
• Murillo N., Valls-Sole J., Vidal J., Opisso E., Medina J. & Kumru H. (2014). Focal vibration in neurorehabilitation.  European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. 50:231-42.
• Saevarsson, S., Kristjansson, A., & Halsband, U. (2010). Strength in numbers: Combining neck vibration and prism adaptation produces additive therapeutic effects in unilateral neglect.  Neuropsychological Rehabilitation. 20(5), 704-724.
• Schindler, I., & Kerkhoff, G. (2004). Convergent and divergent effects of neck proprioceptive and visual motion stimulation on visual space processing in neglect.   Neuropsychologia. 42(9), 1149-1155.
• Schindler I., Kerkhoff G., Karnath H.O., Keller I. & Goldenberg G. (2002). Neck muscle vibration induces lasting recovery in spatial neglect.   Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. 73(4):412-9.

PARKINSON‘S DISEASE

• Jöbges E.M., Elek J., Rollnik J.D., Dengler R. & Wolf W. (2002). Vibratory proprioceptive stimulation affects Parkinsonian tremor.   Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. 8:171-176.
• King L., Almeida Q.J. & Ahonen H. (2009). Short-term effects of vibration therapy on motor impairments in Parkinson’s disease.   NeuroRehabilitation. 25:297-306.
• Valkovic P., Krafczyk S., Saling M., Benetin J. & Bötzel K. (2006). Postural reactions to neck vibration in Parkinson’s disease.   Movement Disorders. 21(1):59-65. 

SWALLOWING

• Gow D., Hobson A.R., Furlong P. & Hamdy, S. (2004). Characterising the central mechanisms of sensory modulation in human swallowing motor cortex.   Clinical Neurophysiology. 115: 2382–2390.
• Lowell S. Y., Poletto C. J., Knorr-Chung B. R., Reynolds R. C., Simonyan K., & Ludlow C. L. (2008). Sensory stimulation activates both motor and sensory components of the swallowing system.  Neuroimage. 42(1), 285-295.
• Steele C. M. & Miller A. J. (2010). Sensory Input Pathways and Mechanisms in Swallowing: A Review. Dysphagia. 25(4): 323–333.

PAIN 

• Guieu R., Tardy-Gervet M.F. & Giraud P. (1993). Substance P-like immunoreactivity and analgesic effects of vibratory stimulation on patients suffering from chronic pain.   Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. 20(2):138-41.
• Lundeberg T., Nordemar R. & Ottoson D. (1984a). Pain alleviation by vibratory stimulation.   Pain. 20(1):25-44.
• Lundeberg T. (1984b). Long-term results of vibratory stimulation as a pain relieving measure for chronic pain.   Pain. 20(1):13-23.
• Lundeberg T. (1984c). The pain suppressive effect of vibratory stimulation and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) as compared to aspirin.   Brain Research. 294(2):201-9.
• Lundeberg T. (1985b). Relief of pain from a phantom limb by peripheral stimulation.   Journal of Neurology. 232(2):79-82.  
• Lundeberg T., Ekblom A. & Hansson P. (1985c). Relief of sinus pain by vibratory stimulation.   Ear Nose & Throat Journal. 64(4):163-7.  
• Lundeberg T., Abrahamsson P., Bondesson L. & Haker E. (1987). Vibratory stimulation compared to placebo in alleviation of pain.   Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 19(4):153-8.  
• Lundeberg T., Abrahamsson P., Bondesson L. & Haker E. (1988). Effect of vibratory stimulation on experimental and clinical pain.  Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 20(4):149-59.
• Ekblom A. & Hansson P. (1985b). Extrasegmental transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and mechanical vibratory stimulation as compared to placebo for the relief of acute oro-facial pain.  Pain. 23(3):223-9.
• Peltz E, Seifert F, Decol R, Dorfler A, Schwab S & Maihofner C. (2011). Functional connectivity of the human insular cortex during noxious and innocuous thermal stimulation.   Neuroimage. 54(2):1324–35.
• Salter M. W. & Henry J. L. (1990a). Differential responses of nociceptive vs. non-nociceptive spinal dorsal horn neurones to cutaneously applied vibration in the cat.   Pain. 40(3):311–22.
• Salter M. W. & Henry J. L. (1990b). Physiological characteristics of responses of wide dynamic range spinal neurones to cutaneously applied vibration in the cat.   Brain Research. 507(1):69–84.
• Staud R., Robinson M.E., Goldman C.T., Price D.D. (2011). Attenuation of experimental pain by vitro-tactile stimulation in patients with chronic local or widespread musculoskeletal pain.   European Journal of Pain. 15(8):836-42.
• Tommerdahl M, Delemos K.A, Whitsel B.L, Favorov O.V. & Metz C.B. (1999a). Response of anterior parietal cortex to cutaneous flutter versus vibration.   Journal of Neurophysiology. 82(1):16–33.
• Tommerdahl M, Favorov OV, Whitsel BL. (2005). Effects of high-frequency skin stimulation on SI cortex: mechanisms and functional implications.   Somatosensory & Motor Research. 22(3):151–69.

OTHER

• Binks A.P., Bloch-Salisbury E., Banzett R.B. & Schwartzstein R.M. (2001). Oscillation of the lung by chestwall vibration.   Respiration Physiology. 126(3):245-9.
• Brunetti O., Botti FM., Roscini M., Brunetti A., Panichi R., Filippi G.M., Biscarini A. & Pettorossi V.E. (2012).  Focal vibration of quadriceps muscle enhances leg power and decreases knee joint laxity in female volleyball players.   Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 52(6):596-605.
• Brunetti O., Filippi GM., Lorenzini M., Liti A., Panichi R., Roscini M., Pettorossi V.E. & Cerulli G. (2006). Improvement of posture stability by vibratory stimulation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.  Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy. 14(11):1180-7.
• Burke D., Hagbarth K.E., Lofstedt L. & Wallin B.G. (1976). The response of human muscle spindle endings to vibration during isometric contraction.   Journal of Physiology. 261(3):695-711.
• Eklund G. & Hagbarth K.E. (1966). Normal variability of tonic vibration reflexes in man. Experimental Neurology. 16:80-92.
• Fattorini L., Ferraresi A., Rodio A., Azzena G.B. & Filippi G.M. (2006). Motor performance changes induced by muscle vibration.   European Journal of Applied Physiology. 98(1):79-87.
• Filippi G.M., Brunetti O., Botti F.M., Panichi R., Roscini M., Camerota F., Cesari M. & Pettorossi V.E. (2009). Improvement of stance control and muscle performance induced by focal muscle vibration in young-elderly women: a randomized controlled trial.   Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 90(12):2019-25.
• Marconi B., Filippi G.M., Koch G., Pecchioli C., Salerno S., Don R., Camerota F., Saraceni V.M. & Caltagirone C. (2008). Long-term effects on motor cortical excitability induced by repeated muscle vibrationduring contraction in healthy subjects.   Journal of the Neurological Sciences. 275(1-2):51-9.
• McMahon C. (1981). Rationale for the use of vibration in management of tactile defensive patients. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy. 27(3):75-80.
• Oliveri D.J., Lynn K. & Hong CZ. (1989). Increased skin temperature after vibratory stimulation.  American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 68(2):81-5.
• Rittweger J. (2010). Vibration as an exercise modality: how it may work, and what its potential might be.  European Journal of Applied Physiology. 108(5):877-904.