Benefits of Vibrioacoustic Therapy: Results from a Pilot Study

Scientific inquiry has also examined the effect that sound has on the health and well-being of the human body through the interdisciplinary work found in medicine, physics, physiology, engineering, and now public health. Vibroacoustic therapy is a type of sound technology that uses sound vibrations to reduce symptoms of illness by invoking the relaxation response in the body. Healthcare providers can use this type of therapy to complement other care given in hospitals and clinics to promote well-being, healing, and a therapeutic environment. This study examined the a convenience sample of individuals who were diagnosed with moderate to severe pain management issues. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 was a control/placebo group that listened to regular music that was not written nor programmed for therapy. Group 2 listened to music that was programmed and written for healing and to improve pain management. Participants were asked to listen to their music for 20 minutes a day, three times a week for 12 weeks. Results showed that individuals who were in the treatment group had significantly greater improvements in their self-efficacy for pain management, positive mood (PANAS), and improved quality of sleep. Those in the treatment group also had significantly lower blood pressure readings, negative mood (PANAS), and both intensity and frequency of pain incidences than the placebo group.  Vibroacoustic therapy shows that it has some positive affect and is related with improved health outcomes with individuals managing pain. Further study needs to be conducted to rule out potential confounding variables.