Effects of vibroacoustic stimulation on hypertension: a pilot cross-over experimental study

BACKGROUND: Arterial hypertension is a frequent condition, affecting up to one-quarter of the global adult population. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are recommended for hypertension management. Among the latter, recent studies have shown the positive effects of music therapy; however, evidence on the impact of vibroacoustic stimulation (VAS) is still limited. OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aimed to explore the feasibility and effects of a VAS intervention on blood pressure (BP) and other cardiopulmonary and stress-related parameters in patients with hypertension. METHODS: A pilot single-sequence cross-over experimental study was conducted on 11 male adults with mild to moderate hypertension. Patients underwent two sessions: on Day 1, they lay for 30 min without any vibratory or musical stimuli. On Day 2, they were placed on the vibroacoustic bed delivering 40 Hz vibration for 30 min, followed by 7 min of vibration combined with relaxing music. Physiological and stress-related parameters were measured at multiple time points during both sessions. RESULTS: Preliminary analysis showed no statistically significant differences between sessions. However, on Day 2, a more pronounced trend toward reductions in systolic and diastolic BP, heart and respiratory rate, and perceived stress was observed. A higher heart rate variability was recorded on Day 1 compared to Day 2. CONCLUSION: The VAS intervention appears feasible and may influence cardiovascular health parameters. Further studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to confirm these effects.