Local Application of Vibration in Motor Rehabilitation - Scientific and Practical Considerations

Vibration stimulates specific receptors, cutaneous and musculo-tendinous. The aff erent impulses travel through spinal neurons to thalamus and cortical structures. The local muscular response to a vibration is a tonic vibratory refl ex. This refl ex depends on many factors: frequency, amplitude, and tendon and muscle length. Based upon this refl ex, vibration produced alteration of isometric and isotonic contraction, fl exibility, spasticity. Many studies investigated facilitator eff ects on movement in stroke patients and spinal cord injuries. There is further need to set the place of vibration in the therapeutic fi eld of motor control enhancement.