title: Rate and force of application of manual chest percussion by physiotherapists.
abstract: The rate and force of manual chest percussion as applied by 35 physiotherapists was investigated. The influence of gender, body weight, body mass index (BMI), rate and frequency of usage on force were examined. Percussion was applied to a healthy male for 35 seconds and the rate and force were measured using a force platform. The rate and force varied among subjects. The mean (SD) rate and force of percussion were 6.60 (1.00) Hertz and 58.10 (15.32) Newtons respectively. There was no relationship between force and 1) gender, 2) body weight, 3) BMI or 4) frequency of usage of percussion. A weak relationship was found between rate and force (r = -0.358, p = 0.034). Thirty-two subjects demonstrated a hand dominance.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapy Department, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, WA, 6160, Australia. sonia.blazey@health.wa.gov.au
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blazey
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith