Percussion & Vibration

Percussion and vibration devices have existed for centuries, but only recently become wildly popular. They are often found in training rooms and workout centers, and some folks purchase them for home use.  People typically rub them all over (like a sander) in an effort to address every type of pain, but often don't know how to use them optimally. Both of these forces help by beginning to break adherent bonds that form between tissue layers, called densifications.  These alter movement of fascia around joints, nerves, blood vessels, and organs, causing pain and dysfunction. Percussion involves the vertical movement of a pistoning head, while vibration uses an oscillatory action.  Percussion can be much more targeted and aggressive, whereas vibration is typically gentler and broadcast widely. Research supports that the combination of a pistoning or oscillatory force from percussion / vibration devices used in conjunction with a manually applied shear force such as that used in Fascial Manipulation® (FM) can accomplish more to change tissue dysfunction than either alone. Percussion and vibration are usually less uncomfortable than FM, but also not as effective at resolving densifications.  Which to use depends on the body part, the body type, and the problem being addressed.  Generally speaking I may use vibration for tissue preparation before performing FM on the abdomen or other sensitive region.  For areas that have a boney backdrop or thicker tissue I prefer percussion devices for tissue preparation before treating manually with FM.