Newsgroups: sci.med
Subject: Re: Vibrators, how long to use??
From: dfield@zeus.calpoly.edu (Daniel R. Field)
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1992 02:54:40 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Keywords: vibrators, usage, long, time, advise, medical, manufacturer

In article <1992Jul18.060438.18204@disk.uucp> tony@disk.uucp (tony) writes:
>	A few weeks ago I posted a message here asking about vibrators in 
>the 100-200 Hz frequency range.  I didn't get any specific answers about
>the best brand to buy, so when I saw a Pollenex Model WM17 on sale for $12
>this afternoon it looked like an offer I couldn't refuse, so I bought one.
>	I bought it because of this editorial I read in a magazine at the
>free public library, it was The Lancet, Vol 339, No. 8808, June 20, 1992,
>pp. 1513-1514, and the editorial was called "Vibrators for Pain."
>	In essence it said that vibration was good for the relief of pain
>arising in nerve or muscle.  It said, "Vibration works best if applied at
>around 100 Hz near or distal to the painful site with moderate (at least
>69 kPa or 10 psi) pressure; vibration should be maintained for about 45
>minutes.  Lower frequencies, less pressure, or shorter duration all reduce
>effectiveness."
>	Well...  I get home with the vibrator, I charge the battery, and I
>read the manufacturer's user manual.  On page four of the manual in bold
>black print it says:  CAUTION  Do not use for more than 15 minutes at one
>time.
>
>	On one count, one of the leading medical journals in the world is
>saying to use it for 45 minutes, all the same, the manufacturer is saying
>not to use it for more than 15 minutes.  All I want to know is why this
>apparent discrepancy?  All I can think of is that the unit may operate in
>a different frequency range...  but as the manufacturer (NEGLIGENTLY???)
>failed to print the frequency range in the users manual I just can't help
>but wonder if it's okay to use it for longer than 15 minutes or not?

        One possibility is that the materials used in the construction of
this particular vibrator are not designed to function for more than 15
minutes at a time, and will otherwise overheat and damage the unit.  Only
the manufacturer would be able to give you the final word on the unit's
engineering, I think.

        The subject reminds me of a time I was at a dinner party at the
home of a very innocent woman and her family.  They were from another
country, and apparently hadn't yet been exposed to quite all the delights
of western gadgetry.  She was well on her way to rectifying that, however,
and was anxious to show off to her guests a particularly clever little toy.
Proudly she pulled out of her purse a "massager" and showed it to everyone.
It was, in fact, a specific use vibrator, a long and narrow cylinder for,
er, those hard to reach spots.  As she demonstrated the utility of this
wonder on her neck and shoulders, it was all we could do to keep our
hysterics within our beet-red faces!

        This isn't one of those, is it?  The manufacturer's warning might
apply to a "specific use" only...   ;->


                                     -Dan Field
                                      dfield@nike.calpoly.edu