1st

International V IBRAC

ConferenceL a h t i O c t o b e r 1 4 - 1 5 2 0 1 6

Multidisciplinary Applications of V ibroacoustic Therapy

P r o g r a m m e& A b s t r a c t s

General InformationRegistrationRegistration will be open from 8:30 - 9:20 on October 14th. All participants must register in order to be permitted access to all scientific sessions and social events. You will find the Conference Information and Registration Desk in the Walimosali - the main presentation room at Wanha Walimo (Vesijärvenkatu 25). For more information about the venue, contact myynti@casseli.fi or +358 10 422 5950.

During registration you can also sign up for the workshops - spaces are limited to 15 persons and works on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Travel and TransportationTravelling to and from Lahti

The railway station and the new bus station (completed in 2016) are now located in the same place; together they are called Travel Centre (Matkakeskus, address: Mannerheiminkatu 15).

Train tickets can be bought online from vr.fi and bus tickets can be bought from matkahuolto.fi.

If travelling from Helsinki-Vantaa airport, the bus takes approximately 1hr 15 mins and departs from terminal1 (shelter 13-14) and terminal 2 (shelter 23-24). The connections usually leave every 30 - 60 minutes and tickets can either be bought online before departure, or from the bus driver (cash only!). Check matkahuolto.fi for more information.

The train can also be taken directly from Helsinki-Vantaa airport. The departure point is signposted and is underground between terminals 1 & 2. Tickets can be bought online beforehand (vr.fi), or from the VR ticket machine, which is green and located in the airport corridor opposite from the exit for the train platforms, or also from the the VR staff on the train. It is advisable to have cash for this as foreign credit cards may not function well on the train, however cards can be used for purchasing tickets from the ticket machine.

For taxis in Lahti, please call +358 50 3483251 or +358 600 300 41 or contact a member of the organizing committee.

Tourist InformationThe tourist information centre in Lahti is located on Alexanterinkatu 18, 15140 Lahti, at the intersection with Vesijärvenkatu. The phone number is +358 0300 472 222. Tourist Info is open Mondays to Fridays from 10:00 - 17:00 and from 9:00 - 16:00 on Saturdays. For more information on the Lahti region, visit lahtiregion.fi.

Banking

ATMs/Cash machines in Finland are marked with an orange ‘Otto’ sign. Three ATMs are located close to the conference venue: Otto on Marolankatu 2, Handelsbanken on Vapaudenkatu 12 (bank open until 16:30) and Danske Bank on Alekanterinkatu 8 (open until 16:30). Most international credit/debit cards are accepted in shops, hotels, and restaurants (Visa, MasterCard, American Express).

Health ServicesEmergency healthcare is available at Lahti’s central hospital, Päijät-Hämeen keskussairaala. The address is Keskussairaalankatu 7, 15850. The emergency number in Finland is 112. Pharmacies are called ‘Apteekki’ in Finland. The closest pharmacy to the conference venue is Kauppakatu 18, 15140 Lahti: Lahden V Kivimaan Apteekki.

Postal ServicesThe post office (Posti) is on Aleksanterinkatu 18 is open from 8:00-20:00 from Monday - Friday, 10:00 - 14:00 on Saturday and closed on Sundays. It is approximately 10 minute walk from the conference venue. Stamps can also be bought from local R-Kioski.

Social Programme

Friday evening

Walimosali

TRUE LOVE - a clear-voiced female trio pays tribute to the music of Elvis Presley.

Sanna Helén - Concert ukulele and vocals

Tiinapriitta Savela - Musical saw and vocals

Päivi Turpeinen - Baritone ukulele and vocals

Saturday eveningWalimosali

APEIRON is a Finnish pop/rock band formed in

1990 by guitarist Esa Taavila and bass player-

singer Marko Punkanen. APEIRON plays

danceable pop/rock music with groove touch.

Addition to their own music APEIRON plays

cover versions of artists such like Sade, Toto, EWF and Donna Summer.

The band’s current lineup since it’s reunion in 2015 consists of Johanna Boedecker (lead vocals), Esa Taavila (guitars, vocals), Marko Punkanen (bass, vocals), Sami Tervonen

(drums), Juha Heikkilä (keyboards) and Matias Partanen (percussion).

Programme Overview

Friday

8:30 - 9:20

Registration

9:30 Opening Session Welcoming address

10:00 Keynote 1 — Heidi Ahonen

Chair : Marko Punkanen

Low-frequency sound intervention: Therapeutic impact and applications

11:30 Exhibit Presentations Speed presentations

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Keynote II — Ana Katušić

Chair : Esa Ala-Ruona

Vibroacoustic therapy and early motor development: Impact on movement variability

14:30-15:00

Coffee break

15:00 Paper 1

Kimmo PyhäluotoVAS-scale questionnaire in experimental use in Kanta-Häme Hospital

Workshop 1 (Muottihuone)

Marjo Nyberg & Tiinapriitta Savela Children and the base mattress - Vibroacoustic method as part of music therapy in children’s psychiatric rehabilitation

15:30 Toril Værnes Trøen Testing the effect of Vibroacoustic Therapy for the reduction of menopause-related problems

16:00 Russ PalmerFeeling vibrations from a hearing and dual-sensory impaired perspective

Paper (1b) (Winssi)Jorge ZainTypes of imagery experiences in vibroacoustic approaches

16:30 Jouko HynynenPhysioacoustic treatment in specialized healthcare

Chair : Ana Katušić

Paper (1b) Anna Kristine FollestadVibroacoustic therapy and its use in spine-related ailments

Chair: Elsa Campbell

17:00 - 18:00 Exhibit Session

19:30 Dinner & Social Programme Walimosali

Saturday

9:30 Keynote III — Lee Bartel Chair : Ralph Spintge

Vibroacoustic therapy as brain stimulation and the potential for treatments

11:00 Paper (2) (Walimosali) Ivar Vinkel & Eha RüütelIntroducing the Estonian VAT bed Anno Domini 2015: A pilot study

11:30 Joanne LoewyImplementing gongs and tone bars in the assessment and treatment of pain

Chair : Birgitta Burger

12:00 Lunch

13:00 Keynote IV — Esa Ala-Ruona

Chair : Marko Punkanen

The application of vibroacoustic therapy for patients with multiple symptoms within specialised healthcare settings

14:15 Coffee break

14:45 Paper (3)

Sanna HelénVibroacoustic intervention in music therapy

Workshop 2 (Muottihuone)

Marko Punkanen

15:15 Jouni KettunenTreating insomnia with vibroacoustic therapy

Developing body awareness in vibroacoustic therapy

15:45 Elsa CampbellVibroacoustic therapy with self-care for pain relief: A pilot study

16:15 Kendrich Graemer M. Ong TanHimalayan singing bowl healing: An ancient form of vibroacoustic therapy

Chair : Eha Rüütel

16:45 Coffee break

17:00 - 18:00

Roundtable & Closing Session

Olav Skille - DiscussantRalph Spintge, Heidi Ahonen, Joanne Loewy, Marko Punkanen, Ana Katušić

Chair : Esa Ala-Ruona

Contemporary views on Vibroacoustic Therapy, prominent areas of practice and research and future directions

19:30 Dinner & Social Programme Walimosali

Keynote speakersHeidi Ahonen

Heidi Ahonen, PhD, MA, RP, MTA, FAMI.  Professor of Music Therapy, Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada (since 2001). Director of the Manfred and Penny Conrad Institute for Music Therapy Research (since 2003). Registered psychotherapist, accredited music therapist, author of seven books and over 50 journal articles, low frequency sound specialist and researcher since 1989.

Ana Katušić

Ana Katušić has a Bachelor and Master in Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, and has conducted her research at doctoral level in Neuroscience at the Croatian Institute for Brain Research at the University of Zagreb. She currently works at the Mali Dom day care Centre for Rehabilitation with neurologically challenged infants and young children. Her interests lie in Neurological Music Therapy (NMT) with regards sensorimotor rehabilitation and visual attention and is not strongly involved in studying the effects of vibroacoustic therapy on motor performance and oculomotor control. Her keynote presentation will address the use of vibroacoustic therapy for early motor development, discussing the impact thereof on variability in movement.

Lee Bartel

Lee Bartel is Professor of Music and Associate Dean of Research at the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto as well as Acting Director of the Music and Health Research Collaboratory, however also has extensive experience teaching at both elementary and high school level in addition to various musical activities and is one of the experts behind the development of the Sound Oasis vibration sleep therapy device. Not only has Sound Oasis been effective for improving quality of sleep, it has also helped in increasing circulation, increasing mobility, decreasing pain, and relieving stress and can be easily used in a supine or seated position. With an extensive background music research, with interest in the effects thereof in medical settings, Lee has been involved in developing the knowledge-base on the application of low-frequency sound vibration.

Esa Ala-Ruona

Esa Ala-Ruona is a music- and psychotherapist, university researcher and Associate Professor, clinical teacher and supervisor, and co-ordinator or the International Master’s

Degree Programme in Music Therapy at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. He is also Editor-in-Chief of the Finnish Journal of Music Therapy Musiikkiterapia. With interest in psychiatry and neurology, in addition to patients with somatic and psychosomatic problems, he actively gives workshops and lectures on these topics both nationally and internationally, as well as co-organising and teaching the VIBRAC training levels with Dr. Marko Punkanen.

VIBRAC Skille-Lehikoinen Centre for Vibroacoustic Therapy and Research

VIBRAC is a development, training, and research centre for Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT). The aim of the centre is to support the development of VAT practice and research internationally as a growing discipline within the field of Music Medicine. The centre serves as a central networking point for VAT clinicians and researchers all over the world. The centre was founded in 2012 and is managed under the Eino Roiha Foundation and the executive board, core group, advisory board, and scientific committee. The VIBRAC Centre organises training for those interested in becoming practitioners of Vibroacoustic Therapy, which is often used as part of music therapy practice or as an adjunct therapy with physio- or occupational therapies or in addition to pharmacological interventions.

International Society for Music in MedicineThe International Society for Music in Medicine (ISMM) publishes the interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal “Music and Medicine”, edited by Dr. Joanne Loewy and Prof. Dr. Ralph Spintge, MD. The society is also a co-sponsor of the conference, working towards similar goals as the VIBRAC centre in narrowing the gap between music and medicine. The journal will also publish special issue in 2017 on vibroacoustic therapy; these invited manuscripts will be based on contributions to the conference.

The conference is also kindly sponsored by Tieteellisten Seurain Valtuuskunta (Federation of Finnish Learned Societies).

Abstracts

Friday

9:30 || Walimosali

Keynote 1

Low-frequency sound intervention: Therapeutic impact and applications

Heidi AhonenWilfred Laurier University, Canadahahonen@wlu.ca

A growing body of evidence of its psychological and neurological effects supports the use of music in therapy.  Frequency being a basic and fundamental element of music, what role does low frequency sound play in explaining this therapeutic power of music? What lessons have I learned from my clinical work over the last 30 years and what is the rationale for choosing certain low frequencies with certain clients? How does my low frequency research results support my clinical findings? I plan to share some of the main entries of my clinical work and research around low frequencies. While not providing definitive answers, I hope to elevate brainstorming around the following questions: What do we need to study when we study low frequencies? Client population specifics, certain frequencies, different input devices, or underlying theories?  Are only certain low frequencies effective, or are all of them equally effective and how to prove this in a RCT trial? What are the most likely underlying mechanisms and theories that could explain the therapeutic impact of certain low frequencies?  Is it auditive or kinaesthetic stimulation that is effective and why? In this presentation I invite you to ponder this journey with me.

Friday

Exhibit presentations

11:30 || Walimosali

Exhibit presentations

Five minute presentations on the Exhibits which can be viewed during the exhibit session 17:00 - 18:00 in Ahjo.

‣ Taikofon, Flexound Systems Oy, Finland Jukka Linjama

‣ Multivib AS, NorwayMajstin Wik/Toril Troen

‣ VibLab, FinlandPekka Nurmi

‣ SMARTdo healBED, EstoniaPriit Aigro

13:00 || Walimosali

Vibroacoustic therapy and early motor development: Impact on movement variability

Ana KatušićDay care Centre for Rehabilitation Mali dom-Zagreb, Croatiaana@malidom.hr

Movement variability is considered essential to typical motor development. The development of healthy and highly adaptable systems relies on the achievement of an optimal state of variability. Alternatively, abnormal development may be characterised by a narrow range of behaviours, some of which may be rigid and highly predictable, as shown by children with cerebral palsy (CP). Reduced variabilty in CP may be associated with deficits in somatosensory systems, especially proprioceptive. Proprioceptive feedback is a fundamental component of sensorimotor integration allowing effective planning of specific motor strategies and execution of voluntary movements in order to performe certain task.

Rehabilitation is a crucial part in the managment of patients with CP and there is a strong rationale to include proprioceptive stimulation in rehabilitation program. One of consolidated approach in neurorehabilitation to induce proprioceptive stimulation is whole body sound wave vibration, where the low-frequency sound stimulation is delivered to the entire body.

In this talk, I will present and discuss the evidence of the effects of low-frequency sound stimulation on early motor development in children with CP. Furthermore, I will focus the potential influence of sound vibration on movement variability in young infants with high risk for CP. In addition, avenues for future research will be outlined.

Keynote 2

Friday

Friday

Paper 1

15:00 || Walimosali

Visual Analogue Scales in experimental use in Kanta-Häme hospital

Kimmo PyhäluotoTampere University Hospital, Finlandkimmo.Pyhaluoto@pshp.fi

Vibroacoustic therapy (with the Physioacoustic Chair) is one of the treatments used in specialised healthcare of mentally disabled patients in Kanta-Häme Hospital. During the years 2009-2013 Visual Analogue Scales (VAS) were in experimental use with vibroacoustic therapy patients. This VAS was created in Seinäjoki Central hospital during a vibroacoustic therapy development project from1995-1999 (Ala-Ruona, 1999). The VAS presented here was a modified version of that used in Seinäjoki Central hospital.

During the years 2009 – 2013 82 patients in Vibroacoustic therapy treatment completed the VAS. The total number of treatment sessions was 1289. The patients’ main diagnostic backgrounds were in psychiatry, but there were also various pain and fibromyalgia syndrome patients. The VAS questionnaire was filled in before the commencement of the treatment and again immediately after the vibroacoustic therapy.

One of the aims was to get more information on the maintenance of verbal conversation, but the questionnaire also gives statistical evidence about the effectiveness of vibroacoustic therapy. Each pre- and post-therapy questionnaire shows positive changes, with the most distinct changes seen in relaxation. VAS questionnaire data have been divided into three different diagnostic groups: psychiatry, pain, and fibromyalgia. In the fibromyalgia patients’ group, relaxation scored well than in other groups.

Overall, the questionnaires show that psychiatry patients’ positive changes are milder than in other groups, where the symptoms are more somatic.

Friday

15:30 || Walimosali

Paper 1

Testing the effect of Vibroacoustic Therapy for the reduction of menopause-related problems

Toril Værnes TrøenMultivib AS, Trondheim, Norwaytoril@multivib.com

Six clinics in Norway participated in this study, which began in 2010. Earlier reports on using vibroacoustic therapy in the treatment of gynecological problems, such as irregular and problematic menstruation, hot flushes etc., had been positive. Based on these symptoms, a VAT program was constructed that contained several frequencies relevant for menopause problems.

All clinics used the 10 transducer MULTIVIB mattresses connected to an amplifier equipped with the program «Secret», which lasts 23 minutes. Twenty-four women received 10 sessions, 2-3 times per week. We used an evaluation scale from 1-10. 1 was no problems and 10 was high problems. The women evaluated their symptoms before and after the test series. The results of the study confirmed that the treatment program appears to have a satisfactory effect on several menopausal problems. Eight of the women got rid of one or more of their problems after 10 therapy sessions.

We have seen, however, that we can obtain increased effects on these symptoms if treatment is continued. The frequency can be reduced to 1 – 2 times per month until the issues disappear.

The author would like to thank Klinikk 1, Klinikk 9na, A.K. Follestad, L. Helland, R. Hellebust, and A.L. Espeland, who participated in the execution of the tests.

16:00 || Walimosali

Paper 1

Friday Feeling vibrations from a hearing and dual-sensory impaired perspective

Russ PalmerISE research group, University of Helsinki, Finlandruss.palmer@kolumbus.fi

In the areas of music therapy working with hearing and dual-sensory impaired people as a target group presents challenges to listening to music. This can be assisted with feeling and experiencing the vibrations produced by music. For this various facilities can be used. Where vibroacoustic (VA) facilities are not available, some useful and flexible methods could be adapted.

One can use a standard music centre with two separate, moveable speakers positioned on a wooden gym floor to enhance music vibrations. In conjunction inflatable balloons can be manipulated by the target group. Balloons can be held towards the sound source and used to test the variations of the intensity and dynamics of the vibrations in the room. In addition the choice of music styles plays an important role to amplify the vibrations and introduces the elements of music to the target group.

Through individual and subjective feedback the target group appeared to respond in a very positive manner indicating they were able to feel some musical tones from low, middle and high levels. These methods appeared to enhance musical vibrations and give some therapeutic experiences, i.e. relaxation and awareness of musical tones.This approach has been tested over a period of 15 years and in most cases the individual feedback reports support notions on how low, middle and high tones are felt through the body.

Paper 1

16:30 || Walimosali

Physioacoustic treatment in specialized healthcare

Jouko HynynenSouth Ostrobothnia Health Care District, Seinäjoki, Finland jouko.hynynen@epshp.fi

This presentation will describe the systematic use of Physioacoustic treatment (PA) in the South Ostrobothnia Health Care District. The Health Care District covers 20 municipalities with a total of approximately 200 000 inhabitants. Seinäjoki Central Hospital has been one of the first providers of PA services in Finland (since early 1990’s). Physioacoustic treatment is available for both in- and outpatients.

The presentation will deal with the development of PA in the music therapy clinic at Seinäjoki Central Hospital, how it is used in practice today, and some future directions will also be discussed. A number of different clinical target groups from somatic disorders to psychiatric problems are treated with PA, and all the processes have been carefully documented for years using client self-assessment methods such as visual analogue scales. Clients are actively involved with the evaluation of the treatment, and VAS-assessments are used routinely.

The experiences of the clients will be discussed, as well as the viewpoints of the medical professionals referring patients for PA treatment. Results of these self-assessments as well as PA practitioner evaluations have shown that PA treatment is, and has been, effective, in the reduction of a variety of symptoms both somatic and psychiatric. These documented variables include relaxation, range of movement, quality of life, sleep, vitality, and general arousal. Outcomes based on the client self-reports and on these variables will be discussed in the presentation.

PA treatment is an effective non-pharmacological treatment; it is safe and cost-effective, and can be used in settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and by various therapists and health professionals.

Friday

Workshop 1

15:00 || Muottihuone

Maximum participants: 15

Nyberg and Savela are music therapists who work in Lahti, Finland. Their clients are school-aged children from psychiatric rehabilitation. Most of the children have early traumatic experiences in their life and in their early attachment. This kind of experiences have an effect on individual's ability to regulate arousal levels and engage in social interaction. In their clinical work Nyberg and Savela have observed that vibroacoustic method may help in building safe therapy relationships. With sound resonance and therapeutic interaction together the arousal level of a child can be regulated to an optimal level, that makes social engagement possible. After social engagement system is activated, it is possible to start working towards skills of self-expression and social interaction.

In the workshop we concentrate on discussing the following questions: 1) How is vibroacoustic method experienced in music therapy? (children's experiences and clinical observations) 2) What extra value does vibroacoustic method bring to children's music therapy?

The content of the workshop

Introduction, where the background theories of attachment disorders and impacts of the developmental traumas are shortly discussed with some case examples.

Experiential learning, where approaches to children's vibroacoustic therapy are experienced in practice.

Themes like 1) the play and the VA method, 2) the favourite music and the VA method and 3) the active music making and the VA method are experienced in small groups.

Discussion, where experiences of small groups are reflected to background theories of developmental traumas and children's music therapy.

Children and the base mattress - Vibroacoustic method as a part of music therapy in children's psychiatric rehabilitation

Marjo Nyberg1 & Tiinapriitta Savela2

1Music therapist, MuM, Lahti, Finland2Nyanssi Therapy Centre, Lahti, Finlandmarjo@marjonyberg.fi

Friday

The clinical experience has shown that vibroacoustic method hasan effect on following areas:

Awareness of physical sensations and regulation of physiological arousal level

Activation of psychological processes (imagination, emotions, association)

Experiences of self-control

Vibroacoustics as compensatory experience of touch in a safe setting, and its association to early experiences

Helps in building safe relationships (therapeutic interaction + calming or activating sound resonance)

The aim of the workshop is to discuss these findings and collect new ideas to support clinical music therapy and research in area of vibroacoustic method in child psychiatry.

Friday

Workshop 1

15:00 || Muottihuone

This work explores the types of imagery experiences that non-clinical populations experience in vibroacoustic approaches. So far, it has been implemented in a single group of fifteen students from the Center of Vibroacoustic Music Therapy of Buenos Aires and therefore, the results presented in this presentation are partial.

Two group vibroacoustic approaches have been designed: gong bath and singing bowl bath. In both, the participants are lying down with their eyes closed on a wooden floor with an air box underneath. Then, after a brief guided relaxation, they receive a gong bath for twenty minutes in the first case and a vibroacoustic and non-vibroacoustic bowl bath in the second one.

After the twenty minutes have elapsed, music pieces that have already been used in previous imagery and music therapy studies are listened to: Debussy’s “Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun” and Grieg’s “Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 Op. 46”.

The imagery types that most people experienced during both vibroacoustic approaches were: sporadic visual experiences, physical and interoceptive sensations, auditory perception and body movement alterations, and sensations of being in the cosmos.

During the music listening, memories, emotions and feelings, associations and transferences to the music, certain archetypical figures and internal dialogue appeared. In spite of the fact that this study is incomplete, its results suggest that vibroacoustic approaches may reduce areas of the brain related to language, discursive thoughts and emotions, and increase interoceptive awareness and body perception, since they are focused on sensory experiences incremented by the reception of sound vibration.

Types of imagery experiences in vibroacoustic approaches

Jorge Zain Centre of Vibroacoustic Music Therapy, Argentinajorgezain@gmail.com

Friday

Paper 1b

16:00 || Winssihuone

In 2015 and 2016 I was asked to treat two different spine-related ailments using vibroacoustic therapy (VAT) combined with acupuncture. A female (60), having a cyst on her spinal and no control of her right foot and poor control of her right arm and a male (59), still very poor control on his right side of body after bracing his neck.

The main intervention in both cases were acupuncture and VAT. The male had access to VAT between the combined acupuncture and VAT-treatments, extra sensation stimulation, and physiotherapy. In both cases the acupuncture points chosen were the same as those used for people recovering from stroke, especially for limb control.

After only two treatments, the female managed to contract her right foot, and was able to extend her right hand better, and she gained more control for a longer period after the second treatment. After two months the male was able to much better control lifting his right foot and hand. A negative result of using too much VAT / combining stimulation and VAT, was extended neuritis.

The short intervention periods provide few data to conclude on. The clear steps gaining control after intervention though is very interesting, and has made, in the male case, both physicians and physiotherapists curious about this intervention method, when comparing with progress in similar cases.

Two cases give limited data to conclude on the validity and reliability of the VAT intervention. But the promising results are at a level that makes further studies recommended.

Case studies in vibroacoustic therapy

Anna Kristine FollestadNorwaypost@akfollestad.no

Friday

Paper 1b

16:30 || Winssihuone

This presentation will look at the phenomenon of neural oscillatory coherence and its role in relation to the human experience of states of being and health. It will particularly look at the potential for sensory stimulation to drive oscillatory coherence through auditory and somatosensory means. The role of rhythmic oscillatory coherence will be referenced with particular emphasis on dysrhythmia and the potential to correct dysrhythmias with somatosensory stimulation. It will present some detail in the selection of frequencies based on research in electro-stimulation. These concepts will then be illustrated with completed or in-progress studies. 

Keynote 3

9:30 || Walimosali

Saturday Vibroacoustic therapy as brain stimulation and the potential for treatments

Lee BartelUniversity of Toronto, Canadalbartel@chass.utoronto.ca

Introducing the Estonian VAT bed Anno Domini 2015: A pilot study

Ivar Vinkel1 & Eha Rüütel21Centre of Excellence in Health Promotion and Rehabilitation, Estonia2Institute of Natural Sciences and Health, Tallinn University, Estoniaivar.vinkel@gmail.com

Saturday

Paper 2

11:00 || Walimosali

In the current presentation we are going to introduce the development of the VAT bed created by the Centre of Excellence in Health Promotion and Rehabilitation and the latest research where it has been piloted. The aim of the research is to describe the influence of VA treatment on the perceived subjective health status in two client groups.

Why a new VAT device? In the beginning of 2014, within the period of the VAT research of the Centre of Excellence in Health Promotion and Rehabilitation (CEHPR) in Haapsalu Neurological Rehabilitation Centre, the designing and developing of a new VAT device was started in the CEHPR. The goals were that the client s posture on the new device would allow the client s better relaxation, that despite of the client s height the client s thighs and back would always be placed in the right place related to the respective loudspeakers, that the client s moving onto the device and from it would be comfortable, and that the device would be producible in long runs.

The first group included clients with spinal cord or brain injury from Haapsalu Neurological Rehabilitation Centre, N= 44, 30 men, 15 women, age 20-69. Equipment – Multivib Basic mattress. Frequencies: 40 Hz; if desired the relaxing music or nature soundscape was directed into headphones. Treatment: 23 minutes 3 times per week. The second group formed from the visitors of Värska Sanatorium with various health complaints, N = 26, 3 men and 23 women, age 13-74. Equipment – VAT bed designed and developed by the Centre of Excellence in Health Promotion and Rehabilitation (CEHPR s VAT bed). Frequencies: 40 Hz; if desired the relaxing music or the nature soundscape was directed into specially aimed loudspeakers built-in the bed. Treatment: 23 minutes 3 times per week. Measures: VAS for spasticity/muscle tension, pain, tiredness, anxiety, physical discomfort.

Presentation of the results will give an overview of significant changes during the VA treatment session and dynamics of the changes during three treatment sessions and will also focus on some aspects of client behaviour connected with use of VA treatment in spa/sanatorium conditions.

Saturday

Paper 2

11:30 || Walimosali

Implementing gongs and tone bars in the assessment and treatment of pain

Joanne LoewyLouis Armstrong Centre for Music and Medicine, NY, USAjloewy@chpnet.org

Music therapy in the treatment of pain is a viable option that can be utilized in tandem with medication (complementary) or as an alternative, in cases where pharmacological agents are not indicated. The decrease in use of analgesics may be an outcome of a music therapy intervention, but integrative models in best practices measure pain treatment as an outcome of reliable pain assessment and patient report is the golden standard. A recent review on the use of music as a non-pharmacological pain management tool focused specifically on medical procedures, self-report of and physiological measures on post-surgical patients and indicated that music therapy can increase comfort and reduce the perception of pain, often decreasing the consumption of analgesics. When the use of pharmaceuticals may be risky, music therapy, and in particular the immediacy of vibration is a viable option as it poses no side effect. The Color Analysis Scale (CAS) provides a means for patients to indicate intensity, possible comorbidities, beliefs (inclusive of culture), and anxiety - all important indicators of the total pain experience. Pain perception may not be manifest only as physically symptom, it can also be experienced psychologically. One study focusing on the effects of active music therapy techniques in patients with chronic and recurring pain employed a phase model for psychotherapeutic outcome. This involved using music to modulate attention, emotion, cognition, behavior and communication. The music helped patients improve their subjective well-being (remoralization), and reduced their symptomatic distress (remediation) enhancing their day-to-day functioning (rehabilitation). Lullabies and laments in particular can help patients express deep feelings of grief and pain. The primary and immediate use of the voice to achieve flow and resonates within the body’s system can be integral. Tonal intervallic synthesis utilizes the vibrations of a Paiste upper and lower body gong along with vocal tones, and can address localized areas of pain in patients. Through improvisation, the music therapist can encourage the externalization of pain and therapeutic resonance utilizing methods of entrainment.

Saturday The application of vibroacoustic therapy for patients with multiple symptoms within specialized healthcare settings

Esa Ala-RuonaUniversity of Jyväskylä, FinlandVIBRAC Centre for Vibroacoustic Therapy and Researchesa.ala-ruona@jyu.fi

Vibroacoustic therapy is a versatile form of treatment and rehabilitation, which utilizes low frequency sound vibration, music listening and elements of therapeutic interaction within individually adjusted process. Clinical knowledge shows that vibroacoustic therapy can be of benefit also for patients with very difficult and challenging conditions, like in the treatment of functional neurological disorders, for different acute and chronic pain and exhaustion syndrome, and for comorbid mood disorders. The elements of vibroacoustic therapy together form a unique treatment entirety, which can approach the needs, problems, and potentials of an individual patient. The formal referral may address only some of the recognized problems the patient has, but the therapeutic process may reveal a plethora of other issues relevant to the problem experienced. The multilevel experiences during the therapy process can be flawlessly reflected in terms of thoughts, images, memories, feelings and bodily sensations, all within the very same therapeutic situation. Vibroacoustic therapy may offer an interface for therapeutic processes, which are not possible to achieve by any other known approach. Physical resonance, body-mind connection, and the relational-emotional bond both with both the music and the therapist offer a multi-layered therapeutic platform for relief, recovery, and re-constructive work of an individual.

Keynote 4

13:00 || Walimosali

Saturday

Sanna Helén works as music therapists at Terapiatalo in Jyväskylä, Finland. Her clients form a heterogeneous group varying from physically disabled children to working-aged adults. In her clinical work she makes use of the PhysioAcoustic chair or the Multivib mattress with almost every client. What kind of an intervention is the vibroacoustic method in the everyday work of a music therapist? These interesting observations and new ideas will be shared at the seminar! Experiences and cases in both individual and group therapy interventions will be presented.

Sanna Helén decided to start observing systematically the use of the vibroacoustic method as part of therapy and recorded the observations of her own work during a period of five months, from February to June 2016. Both PA chair and vibroacoustic mattress were used. Helén recorded every session using the following criteria for both the individual or group sessions: clients’ diagnoses, duration of method/treatment, music that was listened to, and other differences that were found during or after a vibroacoustic session.

Clinical research showed that the significance of the vibroacoustic method as part of a music therapy session is multifaceted: it includes relaxation, activation, and orientation towards other activities, pausing, learning to perceive the dimensions of your body, or a moment of rest after school.

Paper 3

14:45 || Walimosali

Vibroacoustic intervention in Music Therapy

Sanna HelénTerapiatalo, Jyväskylä, Finlandsanna@terapiatalo.fi

Paper 3

The client was a 70-year-old retired occupational health nurse. She had experienced insomnia for over a year and a half, found it difficult to fall asleep and woke up often during the night. The client had used sleep medication (Tenox 20 g). The client had a normal way of life, was physically active, exercised daily and sought help for her insomnia.

The treatment with a Multivib mattress took place over 17 consecutive days. Her blood pressure and pulse were measured before and after each session. The “Firstbeat” sleep questionnaire was used during the study to measure her quality of sleep e.g. how long it took for her to fall asleep. The discussion was mainly conducted the day after the treatment, and the choice of music and its meaning was reviewed. The follow-up was conducted at two, four, and eight weeks after the beginning of the therapy.

The treatment resulted in significant improvement in sleep quality. She also stopped her sleep medication and falling asleep was not a problem anymore.

This case study is encouraging to continue using the VIBRAC method to treat insomnia. It is unlikely the client is alone in her benefitting from the treatment.

Individuality is a factor in vibroacoustics and may be more suitable for some rather than others. Thus, it would be advisable to furtherdevelop the method.

Saturday Treating insomnia with vibroacoustic therapy

Jouni KettunenVIBRAC Centre for Vibroacoustic Therapy and Researchjouni.kettunen@ers.fi

15:15 || Walimosali

Vibroacoustic therapy with self-care for pain relief: A pilot study

Elsa Campbell & Esa Ala-RuonaUniversity of Jyväskylä, FinlandVIBRAC Centre for Vibroacoustic Therapy and Researchelsa.campbell@vibrac.fi

Vibroacoustic treatment has been applied in various capacities for a wide spectrum of ailments. However, a model outlining best practices for vibroacoustics with self-care has not been previously outlined. A pilot study has begun at Seinäjoki Central Hospital, in South Ostrobothnia. This will consist of several n-of-1 trials, in which the efficacy of vibroacoustics for patients with musculoskeletal pain and co-morbidities of depression and anxiety will be tested. Due to the subjectivity of the pain experience, offering treatments tailored to the patients’ individual needs could be an important step towards increasing patient independence and reducing the economic burden of healthcare. The trials will consist of four phases: 1 week baseline, 4 weeks of vibroacoustics contact sessions, 4 weeks of VAT self-care, and 4 weeks of washout. Each patient will receive the same programme (General Relaxation, which centres around 40Hz) but at different strengths. On the first and last days of the trial, patients will complete the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale and the Beck’s Depression Inventory II. Throughout the whole trial, patients will complete several Visual Analogue Scales for both pain and mood to assess whether there are direct effects. The washout period will show how long – if at all – these effects last after the treatment has been completed. The participants’ and practitioner’s notes will give a more in-depth view of the treatment effects. Each participant’s results will be individually analyzed, but because the programme and the patients’ diagnoses are similar, an overall picture of the contact sessions combined with self-care will be possible.

The authors would like to thank the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Jyväskylä for providing financial support to this project.

Saturday

Paper 3

15:45 || Walimosali

Saturday

Paper 3

Himalayan singing bowls are hammered or molded bronze upright bells used by ancient shamans of the Bon tradition. Nowadays, singing bowls serve as alternative-therapy tools which promote stress relief, relaxation, and tension release, benefits identical to that of vibroacoustic therapy in studies. This meta-narrative review draws from research in the fields of physics, engineering, music therapy and medicine to help explain the metaphysical claims on and reported therapeutic benefits of singing bowls. The quality of the sound is influenced by the singing bowl’s size, shape, weight, metal- composition, and symmetry. Tin decreases internal damping and increases sound velocity in bronze bells, resulting to a resonant sound and long-lasting vibrations. Multiple frequencies emitted further split into pairs usually less than 4Hz apart, due to “geometric imperfections” of hand-hammered bowls. Akin to Sound Chairs, Himalayan singing bowls offer the same synergy of palpable vibrations and audible sounds. External vibrations from quaking singing bowls laid on or near the body may harmonize body cells and, or at the very least, massage muscle tissues. Body parts that respond to specific frequencies can be stimulated by the bowls’ inharmonic overtones. Additionally, as they enter the ears, soothing sounds calming the mind and binaural beats (frequency pairs) tuning the brainwaves induce a more restful state. Himalayan singing bowls are a natural source of physical vibrations and binaural beating frequencies. Therapists can use singing bowls not only as a percussion instrument in music psychotherapy but also as another tool for vibroacoustic therapy.

Himalayan singing bowl healing: An ancient form of vibroacoustic therapy

Kendrich Graemer M. Ong TanUniversity of Jyväskylä, Finlandkenongtan@gmail.com 16:15 || Walimosali

Maximum participants: 15 persons

This workshop will focus on Body Awareness (BA) and how to enhance clients’ BA with Vibroacoustic Therapy.

Body Awareness is a conscious perception and understanding of one’s body, in alignment with the somatic and internal sensations which one feels. It is an important component of discovering the self and building self-image.

Many client groups have difficulties to be aware of their body sensations, for example clients with eating disorders, PTSD, complex PTSD and dissociation. Their attitude for their body sensations can be very phobic and they are not able to modulate and regulate arousal of their autonomic nervous system.

Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT) will help these clients to develop their BA skills in a safe and nice way and also stabilize reactions of their autonomic nervous system (ANS).

In this workshop I will lead you through the main concepts related to BA, ANS and VAT and demonstrate some practical ways to use VAT in BA work.

Developing body awareness with vibroacoustic therapy

Marko PunkanenNyanssi Therapy Centre, Lahti, FinlandVIBRAC Centre for Vibroacoustic Therapy and Researchmarko@nyanssi.net

Saturday

Workshop 1I

14:45 || Muottihuone

Saturday

Roundtable | Closing

17:00 || Walimosali

Contemporary views on vibroacoustic therapy, clinical practice and research, and future directions

Olav Skille - Discussant

Heidi Ahonen

Ana Katusic

Joanne Loewy

Marko Punkanen

Ralph Spintge

Chair: Esa Ala-Ruona

The VIBRAC Conference takes place in the fourth year of the centre’s foundation and therefore acts as a marker for the multidisciplinary development in clinical and research practices of vibroacoustic therapy. Since Olav Skille’s and Petri Lehikoinen’s pioneering work, vibroacoustics has grown into an important part of music therapy and music medicine practice. In this closing session, the development of this field, as well as contemporary views, will be discussed in relation to the clinical practice and research thereof. The dialogue between the roundtable participants will also look towards the future of vibroacoustic therapy and treatment, and the best practice principles of low frequency sound vibration.