Somatron Vibroacoustic Products
New
and Ongoing Research
"Influence of Studying
on Students' Health"
Location: Brain Fitness Center
Croatia
Contact Information: Dr. Petar-Kresimir Hodzic
Project Coordinator
Brain Fitness Center - Matea
Preradoviceva 37
HRVATSKA - CROATIA
Phone: 385-1-4590-215
Fax: 385-1-4590-215
E-mail: pkhcroat@yahoo.com
This
research project has been organized by staff of the Brain Fitness
Center in Croatia. After
identifying an international trend for students suffering a deterioration
in their health to associate their health problems with their educational
experiences, staff at the Brain Fitness Center have developed a research
project to investigate this concept.
The aim of the project is to introduce a pilot group of approximately
12 students to relaxation and anti-stress methods incorporating Somatron
equipment, in order to look at the effects of relaxation on the relationship
between studying and health. The Brain Fitness Center itself has received
media interest in Croatia and consequently this research project is
receiving support from a variety of organizations including the International
Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA). In fact, to date, 13 medical schools from
4 different continents and 13 different countries have joined the
project team. The researchers
will be looking for significant reductions in stress levels and increases
in cognitive / mental functioning (E.g. memory and learning) in students
receiving the relaxation / anti-stress interventions.
"Physioacoustic Treatment of
Fibromyalgia"
Location: East Carolina University
School of Medicine
Greenville, North Carolina
Contact Information: Dr. Gemma L. Viola/Dr. W.
James Metzger
School of Medicine
Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
East Carolina University
600 Moye Blvd.
Greenville, North Carolina 27858-4354
Dr. Gemma
L. Viola is a fellow in Allergy, Asthma & Immunology at East Carolina
University in Greenville, North Carolina. She has been involved
in research using physioacoustic technology with Fibromyalgia, working
with Dr. W. James Metzger. After completing an initial study
that looked at the effects of low frequency sound on the symptoms
associated with Fibromyalgia, this research team has plans to conduct
a second study utilizing a Somatron technology. This second
study will continue to look at the effects of low frequency sound
on individuals diagnosed with Fibromyalgia focusing specifically on
muscle condition & circulation. The hypotheses for this
study are that low frequency sound experienced by individuals with
Fibromyalgia via a Somatron recliner will:
1) Enhance muscle circulation to tense muscles
2) Relax muscles in spasm
3) Improve quality of life
The proposed
study design will randomize thirty subjects to one of three subject
groups. Group I will experience low frequency sound via music
played through the Somatron recliner three times weekly during a three
week period. Group II will be seated on the Somatron recliner
three times weekly during the same time frame however, this group
will experience the same music played in the room rather than through
the Somatron thus not having the experience of low frequency sound.
Group III will not experience the Somatron recliner, instead they
will receive their standard care being followed throughout.
Symptoms for all subjects will be evaluated by physical exams and
questionnaires.
"Challenger
School"
Location: Martin County School
District
Challenger School
5150 S.E. Willoughby Blvd.
Stuart, Florida 34997
Contact Information: N. Rabe Cogsil, Music Therapist/Music
Education
561-219-1515
561-219-1519
Student Population: Students with a
variety of mental, physical and emotional challenges including
autism, visual impairments, hearing impairments, medically fragile
students, severely emotionally disturbed students and students with
behavior disorders.
Age Range:
3 to 21 Years
Size of School:
Approximately 100 Students
Model of Somatron: Vibromusic Beanbags
The school is currently
working to create a therapeutic lunchroom.
"Influence of Studying on Students’
Health"
Location: Croatia
Contact Information: Dr. Petar-Kreslimar Hodzic
Project Coordinator
Brain Fitness Center - Mateau
Preradouiceva 37
Phone: 385-1-4817 192
Fax: 385-1-423-661
Status of ResearchProject: In Proposal
Stage in April 2000
This
research project has been organized by staff of the Brain Fitness
Center in Croatia. After
identifying an international trend for students suffering a deterioration
in their health to associate these health problems with their educational
experiences, staff at the Brain Fitness Center developed a research
project to investigate this notion more thorougly.
The aim of the research project is to introduce a pilot group
of approximately 12 students to relaxation and anti-stress methods,
incorporating Somatron equipment, in order to look at the effects
of relaxation on the relationship between studying and health.
The Brain Fitness Center itself has received media interest
in Croatia and consequently this research project is receiving support
from a variety of organizations including the International Federation
of Medical Students Association (IFMSA). To date, 13 medical schools from 4 different
countries have joined the project team. The researchers will be evaluating, in
particular, any changes in stress levels and cognitive / mental functioning
(eg. Memory and learning) in students receiving the relaxation / anti-stress
interventions
"Nurturing Music in Delivery Rooms"
Location: Croatia
Contact Information: Dr. Petar-Kreslimar Hodzic
Project Coordinator
Brain Fitness Center - Mateau
Preradouiceva 37
Phone: 385-1-4817 192
Fax: 385-1-423-661
Status of ResearchProject: In Proposal
Stage in April 2000
This project
has been designed to look at the use of music vibration with pregnant
women during delivery. After
collecting and reviewing research that has already been completed
using the various models of Somatron, Mr. Hodzic intends to pursue
approval from the “Croatian Ethic Committee for Medicine” and put
together a research project to look at using the Somatron during childbirth. The proposed study will involve
installing specially designed “birthing mattresses” into 3 of 6 delivery
rooms at 2 hospitals in Petrova and Zagreb, Croatia. Women who choose and provide consent to
participate in the study would be randomly assigned to either an experimental
group where they would have the opportunity to use one of the special
birthing mattresses, or to a control group, where they would receive
the standard medical care during childbirth without the addition of
music vibration. The women who participate in the study
would also be further divided into two groups depending upon the nature
of their delivery, being grouped as having either “normal pregnancies”
or “complicated” / “risk” pregnancies.
Mr. Hodzic and his research team hope to follow the birthing
records of the study participants to look at the following things:
1) Length of delivery.
2) The presence or
absence and / or number of complications during delivery.
3) The level of stress
during delivery (measured by the levels of stress hormones in both
mother and child),
The
level of relaxation during delivery (measured by psychological tests)
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