Vibroacoustic (VA) treatment was applied to patients with chronic spinal cord and brain injuries during rehabilitation. The study aimed to ascertain the suitability of short-term VA treatment for supporting a decrease in spasticity and pain and an improvement in health condition in the rehabilitation programme for patients with spinal cord and brain injuries. Hypotheses: 1) indicators of self-perceived spasticity and pain measured after VA treatment are lower than measurement results before treatment; 2) VA treatment can be used in rehabilitation programmes to support the improvement of self-perceived health condition. 53 patients aged 20-72 participated in the study. VA treatment of 40 Hz was conducted once a day for 23 minutes over four or five days. Self-report numerical rating scales were used to measure patients’ condition before and after VA treatment sessions. Research findings revealed significant change in the levels of spasticity, pain, physical discomfort, general health condition, fatigue and anxiety after VA treatment sessions compared to the measurements before the sessions. Reduction in spasticity and physical discomfort was not statistically significantly different after four- or five-day treatment, a decrease in pain and an improvement in perceived health condition were significantly higher after five days than after four days treatment.

This study was motivated by the development of a new model of vibroacoustic (VA) therapy device which, in terms of its design and characteristics, could be used in various health promotion and treatment environments. In the case of VA therapy, a bed or lounge chair is used to transmit special low frequency sounds for the purpose of affecting the whole body. In the review of previous studies, the results of applying VA therapy in the case of somatic and functional disruptions are described. In this study a new VA device prototype was used. The study was carried out at a health resort where, over the course of a two month period, visitors had the opportunity to participate in VA therapy. Twenty-six volunteers participated in the study. Data was collected through self-rate scales, which were completed at the beginning and end of the VA treatment session. The results of the study indicated an improvement in feelinga reduction in muscle tension, pain, fatigue, anxiety-as well as the suitability of the device and therapy for health improvement related purposes, integrated with other health services.