New Wellness Pilot Study at the Laurier Centre for Music Therapy Research

Dear Music Students, Faculty and Staff,

During the last few years the LCMTR has been in a time of transition and has experienced growth. We in the Centre have concentrated on establishing several low-frequency research projects. The Centre was recipient of a very generous gift from Steve and Eve Menich, which allowed us to purchase the first low frequency Physioacoustic sound wave therapy chairs in Canada. Additionally, renovations of our low frequency research space in A210 was made possible by a grant from the Provincial government and from individual donors in the community.

WHAT IS A PHYSIOACOUSTIC CHAIR?

A group of Finnish experts spent twenty years developing the Physioacoustic Sound Wave Therapy System for therapeutic purposes. The computer creates and controls low-frequency sinusoidal sound waves, which are broadcast through the chair’s speakers. The person sitting on the chair feels relaxation or massage as sympathetic resonance within muscles and other tissues. The physioacoustic chair is a piece of medically approved equipment (by the FDA in the USA and the BSI in the UK) for a wide range of medical conditions and sports injuries. Similar in concept to the high frequency sound waves used in ultrasound treatment, physioacoustic sound wave therapy has three medical claims: (1) improving blood circulation, (2) reducing pain, and (3) relaxing muscles. The chair uses low frequencies, between 27-113 Hz. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has named the treatment as Physioacoustic Massage. It has a code and has been registered as Next Wave Chair TM, medically approved and is classified as II (low risk, non invasive).

HOW TO LEARN MORE?

If you are interested in learning more about low frequency research, please visit our website http://www.soundeffects.wlu to view our Newletter Volume 4, Fall 2007 or visit http://www.lowfreqsoundresearch.net , register and join the dialogue among international low frequency researchers.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE?

Several previous studies show physioacoustic chairs potentials for well-being of university students and staff members. The results show that the use of physioacoustic chairs can promote the well-being, subjective feelings of health and comfort, relaxation, and give peaceful time for reflection. The treatment improves blood circulation, reduces pain, and relaxes muscles.

The study will launch March 8, 2010.

Warm regards,

Dr. Heidi Ahonen

Director, Laurier Centre for Music Therapy Research, LCMTR

http://www.soundeffects.wlu.ca

Email: hahonen@wlu.ca