Percussor's are those little hammer devices that a doctor will tap on your knee to check your reflexes and to make sure that your nerves are responding correctly. But did you know that there are many types of percussors that can detect and treat disease in internal organs? Percussion instruments have been used by the medical profession since the 1700's and more and more mediums are picking up the trend. Let's take a look at what percussion has done to treat disease and assist in pain reduction over the years.

Percussion in the medical field

Percussors have been used for years to determine if patients have healthy nerve response and reflexes in their arms, knees and feet. This is usually done with a hand held "hammer" type device with a rubber triangle head with small taps targeting reflexes. There is also a percussion technique that can be used to treat cystic fibrosis and other lung related diseases with a device strapped to the chest. The repetitive and rapid tapping that the percussion delivers is aimed to break up the fluid or mucus clogging the air ways. When a patient begins to cough the doctor knows that the air ways are being cleared.

Percussion and Chiropractic

Chiropractors have also jumped on the scene with the use of percussors. In this field the target areas are scar tissue or areas where fascia has become tense and tight. Often times after surgeries the soft tissue of the body tends to heal itself by contraction and fibrotic scarring. The percussor is a very useful device at breaking up the knotted tissue and releasing the tension and pain associated with scarring. It reduces adhesion and contraction, increases blood and lymphatic drainage, and releases muscle spasm and nervous system tension.

Percussion and massage

Massage Therapy is another field that recognizes the benefits of percussion. It is used to generate relaxation of hard contracted muscles preventing the formation of fibrosis in the tissue. It is also used to hasten the removal of waste by-products through lymphatic flow and drainage and eliminates fatigues by helping to remove lactic acid.