The use of vibration in public hospitals in Australia

Vibration is the fine oscillatory movement combined with rib compression during the expiratory movement of the chest wall. Vibration is used by physiotherapists for treatment of patients with respiratory disorders. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of and the rationale for the use of vibration by physiotherapists in public hospitals in Australia. Questionnaires were distributed to physiotherapists who treated respiratory patients in 95 randomly selected hospitals throughout Australia from March to October, 2001. The response rate to the questionnaire was 81%. Most (96%) of the respondents used vibration, and 54% of the respondents used vibration within the week prior to filling in the questionnaire. Most of the respondents used vibration to assist with the clearance of secretion in patients who had excessive secretions, difficulty clearing secretions, or were intubated and ventilated. The respondents proposed that vibration clears secretions by mechanical loosening of secretions and increasing expiratory flow rates. A large proportion of the respondents combined the use of vibration with postural drainage and percussion. Even though the effectiveness of vibration is not known, vibration is used extensively and frequently by physiotherapists in public hospitals throughout Australia.