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Updated: Jun 16, 2026

Whole Body Vibration Methods with Survivors of Polio
Published on: October 17, 2018
Investigation of the frequency and force of chest vibration performed by physiotherapists
1S.K. Li, BAppSc (Physiotherapy), MBioMedEng, PhD: Senior Burns Physiotherapist, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Purpose:
To investigate the frequency and force of chest vibration as applied by 18 physiotherapists working in a teaching hospital.
Method:
CHEST VIBRATION WAS APPLIED TO A HEALTHY ADULT MALE LYING SUPINE ON A PLINTH WITH SEVEN MOUNTED SENSORS MEASURING FREQUENCY AND FORCE, DURING THREE TEST CONDITIONS: (1) directly on the chest, (2) on the chest through a layer of sheet, and (3) on the chest through a layer of towelling. The influence of gender and current practice area (physiotherapists working in cardiopulmonary areas [cardiopulmonary physiotherapists] and physiotherapists who presently did not work in the cardiopulmonary area, but had treated cardiopulmonary patients within the last year [general practice physiotherapists]) on the frequency and force of chest vibrations was examined.
Results:
Physiotherapists demonstrated a mean frequency of 5.7, 5.3, and 5 Hz and a mean maximum force of 272.78, 273.47, and 271.13 N for conditions 1, 2, and 3 respectively. There were no significant differences in the frequency or forces generated by vibration between cardiopulmonary and general practice physiotherapists, between genders, or among the three test conditions.
Conclusions:
Vibration frequency was lower and force higher than previously recorded. Force may vary depending on the patient. The addition of a sheet or towel did not affect the force or frequency of vibration compared to vibration performed directly on the chest.
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