Percussion instruments we all learned about in elementary school music class operate very similarly to medical percussors. Percussion instruments such as drums work by being repeatedly hit on the head which causes sound to bounce around the wooden frame of the drum.  Medical percussors function in a similar fashion, in that they do rely on repeated vibrations, yet they have the ability to create more than just a pretty sound, medical percussors can alleviate muscle pain, release chest congestion due to mucus build up and cystic fibrosis.

Muscle Pain:

From migraines associated with chronic lock jaw (TMJ) to persistent lower back pain, percussor therapy can significantly reduce chronic pain. Excessive tightening of muscles or even areas with scar tissue can cause overall stiffening of the muscles resulting in pain. Both of these conditions, tight muscles or scar tissue, can be alleviated through percussor therapy. For muscle pain, medical percussors rely on trigger point therapy to release the tightened muscles. The percussor works by breaking up scar tissue and adhesions in the body’s fascia which cause restricted motion or pain. Fascia is part of the connective tissue system that protects organs, bones, muscles, nerves and blood vessels, while fascia in its non-stretchy form makes up tendons. Essentially fascia extends throughout the entire human body forming a protective barrier.

When it comes to muscle injury, the fascia contracts to protect the muscles from injury and causing surrounding muscles to take on the job of the injured muscle. The problem arises when these surrounding muscles are incapable of the performing the desired job and in trying to do so, your body strains what had become the helper muscle.

Fascia and bones are able to carry an electrical current which allows a percussor to break down the fascia that has constricted and formed knots. The percussor is successful even with older chronic pain ridden areas. The percussor releases vibrations which penetrate through the various fascia layers promoting muscles to relax and release latent lactic acid and allowing lymphatic drainage.

Chest Congestion:

Medical percussion is particularly significant in the field of chest congestion because of its implication to overall health. Excessive mucus in the lungs can lead to dangerous bacterial infections. A pneumatic percussor is attached to a patient’s chest and the percussion, coupled with particular body positions that utilize gravity to promote the flow of mucus, helps breakup lung congestion. For hand held percussors, they are generally placed in two locations on the chest to specifically target each lung; however the percussor also comes in the form of a vibrating vest which is the easiest means of administering chest percussions. Mechanical percussors are more effective than hand clapping as it is able to emit a more constant percussion and as a result, gets positive results more quickly than hand clapping alone. 

When using a mechanical percussor to clear the lungs, the goal is to drain mucus from the smaller lung lobes to the larger passageways so that the patient can literally cough the mucus up. However it is not so simple, lungs are more complicated than the Los Angeles freeway system. With five lobes and each lobe divided into smaller segments comprised of a series of blood vessels, air sacs and tubes, these segments provide lots of pockets for mucus to hide in and are the precise target of the percussor.  (The right lung has three lobes while the left lung has two.)

Pneumatic percussors are helpful in the treatment of cystic fibrosis. The percussor can be used in conjunction with nebulizers, antibiotics, ultrasonic mist tents and air compressor-nebulizers to neutralize bacteria and unclog the lungs.

It should be noted that regardless of use, whether that be for muscle pain or chest congestion, the location of the percussor is critical. Placing the percussor incorrectly can lead to undue injury and prior to use, formal training is recommended especially when treating children.  

Chronic pain is a significant problem as it can come on so slowly that its victims gradually adjust to the restrictions and accept it as a problem succumbing to the pain and dealing with it through the use of over the counter painkillers and a less active lifestyle. Depending on the injury, there may be no need for this type of restricted, painkiller dependent existence. Percussion therapy can alleviate even 10 year old achy backs and scar tissue ridden muscles by sending vibrations to releasing their tension.  

In the case of mucus filled lungs, percussion breaks down the mucus in the harder to clear sections of the lungs by causing the mucus to flow into larger passageways. The use of percussors does not eliminate the mucus but rather causes the mucus to flow in such a way as to encourage the body’s natural solution to rid itself of mucus: coughing. Percussion used in the case of lung congestion reduces the risk of bronchial infections and helping sufferers of cystic fibrosis.