Effect of vibration frequency on finger blood flow.

A total of 18 healthy subjects (9 men and 9 women) 20-35 years of age were used to study the effect of vibration frequency on finger blood flow. Seven vibration frequencies of 16, 31.5, 63, 125, 250, 500 and 1,000 Hz, at vibrational accelerations of 10 m/s2 (rms: root mean square) or 50 m/s2 (rms), with the exception of 16 Hz, which was measured at only 10 m/s2 (rms), were randomly applied to the palm of the right hand for 1 min at intervals of about 3 min. Finger blood flow was measured simultaneously in both the right and the left middle fingers with a blood flowmeter using a thermal diffusion method and in the left middle finger with a laser Doppler flowmeter. The experiments were performed in an artificial climate chamber set at 23 degrees C air temperature and 50% humidity. Relatively great responses were observed at frequencies of 31.5-63 and 250-500 Hz on the exposed and unexposed sides, respectively, as measured with a blood flowmeter using a thermal diffusion method and at 31.5-63 as well as 500 Hz on the unexposed side with a laser Doppler flowmeter. These results may be related to Meissner's and pacinian corpuscles.