A special muti-color light projector helps relax the body and mind when used in conjunction with the new Somatron chair at the Fowler Unit at Noble Hospital. The chair uses vibro-acoustic therapy which consists of vibration and music. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
Michael Kuta, lead mental health councilor at the Fowler Unit at Noble Hospital, demonstrates a new Somatron chair which uses vibro-acoustic therapy to soothe a patient through vibration and music. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
Noble Hospital’s Fowler Unit uses Vibroacoustic Therapy Chair
Somatron chair soothes patients through music and vibration
WESTFIELD – Noble Hospital’s Fowler Unit, an inpatient psychiatric unit, is continuing to develop and enhance its innovative Occupational Therapy program under the direction of Jodie Genovese, OT R. Recently they purchased a Somatron chair. This is a vibro-acoustic chair that uses music and musical vibrations to promote a relaxation response in patients. Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT) is a form of therapy in which the body is “massaged” through special vibrations which sync with your organs, tissues, and cells, causing total body relaxation. The chair’s design has built-in speakers for a surround sound experience, a CD player which patients can play their favorite music, and adjusts to different positions to maximize comfort. The chair’s main function is to provide emotion regulation, which then assists in promoting discussion, symptom management, and greater self-awareness. This device is one in a series of sensory modulation tools which the Fowler Unit uses to enhance treatment. It has been found to be particularly useful for patients with such disorders as Post-Traumatic Stress, Anxiety and Depression.
Genovese notes that the Fowler Unit is the first psychiatric unit in the United States to utilize the Somatron chair, although it is used in other clinical settings. The Occupational Therapy program at Noble’s Fowler Unit will continue to develop and grow to meet the needs of their patients.
For more information, please contact the Community Development Office at [email protected] or 413-568-2811 x5520.
