Student page

Dr Graeme's comments

Message from Graeme

We want to give students the best opportunity to experience and learn about the therapeutic benefits and uses of genuine vibration massage not massage guns. We do this three main ways:

CONTENTS

Introduction to vibration massage
Students discounts and teaching
Learning resources

Introduction to vibration massage

What is vibration massage

Vibration massage is where the head/pad of a vibration massager is placed on the surface and sends in therapeutic vibrations the way ultrasound does.

The scientifically proven effects of vibration massage

The therapeutic effects of vibration massage

This diagram summarises the proven effects of therapeutic vibrations. For more information please see The scientifically proven effects of vibration massage- with clinical applications .

These are not percussion or massage guns

We wish to differentiate genuine vibration massagers from percussion massagers or massage guns as much as possible. Vibration massagers sit on the surface and send in therapeutic vibrations (like ultrasound does) whereas percussion massagers drive their heads in like jackhammers. Because of this:

  • Vibration massagers deliver far more therapeutic vibrations discussed above
  • Driving the heads in makes massage guns potentially uncomfortable and damaging, therefore massage guns cannot be safely used at the optimum therapeutic vibration frequencies
  • Massage guns can easily cause injury.

Therefore you will find genuine vibration massagers to be far more effective and more comfortable.

Why our massagers are not "massage guns"

Our massagers

A few years ago we were looking for something we could recommend for patients to use at home but could not find anything we were happy with. At the same time my expensive underperforming professional massager kept on breaking down and needing repairs. I built my own machines, making them robust and easy enough for patients to use, but perform really well so I could though the thing I was using in the bin. I started supplying a few colleagues, and since then it has grown. Please see this video of myself demonstrating our machines.

Dr Graeme demonstrating our massagers

Student discounts and teaching

  • Introduction
  • Teaching purposes
  • Please share
  • Student discount details and ordering

Introduction

The best way to learn this therapy is to have your own machine so we decided make available heavily discounted massagers for eligible students. Actually we are subsidising them :-) For details please see below.

Teaching purposes

We are very happy to supply universities and colleges with massagers for teaching purposes, no charge. We have supplied hundreds over the years for this. All we need is the university/college to contact us to make the arrangements.

Please share

We have always relied on colleagues recommending our massagers and telling other colleagues. Because of this we have never paid for advertising and so forth, enabling us to supply colleagues with high quality machines at very fair prices. If you could help us out by telling others and maybe sharing this page it would be most appreciated.

Student discount details

Eligibility

Field of study

The purpose of the discounted massagers is to allow students who are likely to be able to make good use of vibration massage once graduated to experience this. The massagers were developed for use on musculoskeletal conditions which means that those studying Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Physiotherapy, and Podiatry would be eligible. However, there are other professions that deal with these, and vibration massage has other excellent uses such as those for sports and exercise, and even cellulite reduction. If in doubt please email us

Level of qualification

We do require the course to lead to a significant qualification. A degree would be fine. A diploma in massage would be fine, but a short course would not. If in doubt please email us

Prices and ordering

Australia and New Zealand

General Purpose Massagers
  • $30 each.
Postage
  • If a single unit add $15 postage.
  • For multiple units no postage.
How to order
  • Note: if you are unsure or edibility please email us first.
  • Add the price of the massager and postage (if required), then make the payment using our Australian Dollar payment page . In the description put what you are ordering (eg. two General Purpose Massagers- student discount”).
  • Tell us what course you are doing
  • If it is not clear from your email address that you are a student please email us something such as a student ID.

The UK

General Purpose Massagers
  • 20 Pounds each.
Postage
  • If a single unit add $15 postage.
  • For multiple units no postage.
How to order
  • Note: if you are unsure or edibility please email us first.
  • Add the price of the massager and postage (if required), then make the payment using our UK Pound payment page . In the description put what you are ordering (eg. two General Purpose Massagers- student discount”).
  • Tell us what course you are doing
  • If it is not clear from your email address that you are a student please email us something such as a student ID.

Europe

General Purpose Massagers
  • 25 Euro each.
Postage
  • If a single unit add $15 postage.
  • For multiple units no postage.
How to order
  • Note: if you are unsure or edibility please email us first.
  • Add the price of the massager and postage (if required), then make the payment using our Euro payment page . In the description put what you are ordering (eg. two General Purpose Massagers- student discount”).
  • Tell us what course you are doing
  • If it is not clear from your email address that you are a student please email us something such as a student ID.
  • Note: if you are outside the EU customs may become involved. Any duties will be your responsibility.

Resources and downloadable guides

  • Usage instructions
  • Usage ideas
  • Prescribed supplementary self massage
  • Downloadable .pdfs

Usage instructions

Please see our Vibration massage usage guide . However, whether using the machines yourself or advising patients be aware that most people use massagers incorrectly and there is a mountain of misinformation. Most comes from people adapting conventional massage techniques rather than use those appropriate for vibration massage. For more information about this please see Common massager usage mistakes .

Usage ideas

(Myofascial) trigger points
Does vibration help healing
The sports and exercise guide to vibration massage
Massage and trigger point therapy for shoulder pain
The practical guide to massage for cellulite
The easy way to release trigger points in your low back
How to massage fibromyalgia
Self massage and trigger point therapy for tennis elbow
Back pain: massage therapists miss the most important muscles
Massage for health and wellness

Prescribed supplementary self use

When managing musculoskeletal condition chronic myofascial changes such as (myofascial) trigger points) are a major challenge. A hand full of therapy sessions often gives relief, but returning the tissues back to normal requires regular therapy over a long period of time. Of course whether we do it or it is referred to a massage therapist this is usually beyond the resources and motivation of most patients. These tissues continue to affect biomechanics and posture, and relapses are inevitable.

Of course it’s seen as our fault for not fixing the problem. Being able to prescribe supplementary self massage using our massagers largely solved this problem. Please see this video where summarise how we did this.

Dr Graeme discussing prescribed self massage

Downloadable .pdfs

Vibration massage usage guide.pdf

Research Based Information

Traditional home massage found to be far superior to anti-inflammatory drugs for chronic upper back pain

Although anti-inflammatory drugs are heavily advertised and routinely prescribed for pain syndromes a recent clinical trial found them to... Read Article  

Are massage guns scientifically proven

Read Article  

Does massage help athletic or sports performance: with practical advice

Professional sports clubs have long used massage as a way to help their athletes, and more recently various self massage options have... Read Article  

Functional rehabilitation

As practitioners we are continually dealing with dysfunctional musculoskeletal systems. Typically dysfunction develops and is perpetuated... Read Article  

How to massage your cellulite: the scientific alternative

With professional cellulite therapies being expensive and really not that effective the thought of being able to have a massage or use a... Read Article  

Muscle fatigue: the cause doctors usually overlook- and what you can do about it

There are many possible causes of muscle fatigue, but by far the most common cause of muscle fatigue, but the most common and probably... Read Article  

Self massage and trigger point therapy for headaches and migraines

Scientists have found that a high proportion of headaches result from pain coming from the muscles and joints of your head and neck. ... Read Article  

The benefits of sports massage

Massage has been widely used by sports clubs and professional athletes, but more recently self massage options have made these more... Read Article  



Research Based Information (Continued)