Effect of low frequency sound vibration on acute stress response in university students—Pilot randomized controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundLow frequency sound (LFS, combined with music listening) is applied by practitioners in vibroacoustic therapy who report a positive effect of this intervention on acute stress response. However, there is a lack of research on this topic and studies with mainly objective measurements are scarce.Materials and methodsIn this pilot double-blinded Randomized Controlled Trial we used a multimodal approach to measurement of acute stress response in 54 international university students attending a university summer school in Olomouc, the Czech Republic who were individually randomized into a group receiving LFS vibration and a control group. In both groups, the acute stress response was measured by heart rate variability (HRV), visual analogue scales (VAS) for stress and muscle relaxation.ResultsDifferences were found in pre-test post-test measures, however, between groups differences occurred only for HRV, with statistically significant improvement in the experimental group (parameter LF/HF and pNN50).ConclusionVibroacoustic therapy has the potential to contribute to the stress management of university students. Further research is needed to explore the effect of LFS on stress response, especially when applied without additional music listening.

Effects of Vibroacoustic Stimulation on Psychological, Physiological and Cognitive Stress

“…Consequently, the field remains unestablished. Preliminary research infers the intervention can relieve stress [28] though assessment of this is scarce [29][30][31][32]. To the authors knowledge, four studies to date specifically compare the effect of vibroacoustic interventions on stress using biosignal measurements.…”

“…The first is a double-blinded randomized controlled trial of 54 university students by [30] who compared an experimental group (VAT) to a control (placebo). Both groups listened to the same piece of music developed for the study on a reclined wooden chair structure the VIBROBED®.…”

“…A second study by Vilímek et al (2022) [32] also used a VIBROBED® as well as the VIBRATICS I vibroacoustic device. The latter is a padded flat vibrating surface upon which participants lay in the supine position.…”

“…Research Question Three (RQ3), psychological stress: Are participants with higher PSS-10 scores more impacted by VSM? Hypothesis 3 (H3): VSM benefits individuals with higher perceived psychological stress [30].…”