Targeted Vibration for Orofacial, Cranial & Cervical Regions
An ARTG-registered medical device designed to integrate into modern care as an adjunct to treatment and for patient self-use between sessions.
For Clinics & Retailers
What Makes Pocket Physio the Best Choice for Australian Clinics
Precision for Sensitive Regions
Predictable, controllable mechanical input designed for safe use in anatomically sensitive areas.
Adjunct Across Clinical and Procedural Care
Supports quality of care across varied clinical settings.
Offers Continuity of Care
Enables structured carryover between sessions, reducing flare-ups and accelerating progression.
Aligns With Contemporary Care Models
Pocket Physio integrates naturally with contemporary pain science and bio-psycho-social models of care.
Patient-Friendly by Design
Aims to reduce perceived threat, improve patient comfort, adherence, self-efficacy and participation.
Precision for Sensitive Regions
Predictable, controllable mechanical input designed for safe use in anatomically sensitive areas.
Precision Mechanical Input For Sensitive Regions
Pocket Physio delivers low-displacement vibration designed for safe, well-tolerated use in sensitive orofacial, cervical, and cranial regions.
Vibration has been used in physiotherapy practice for decades and is well-documented. The device operates within frequency ranges commonly applied for therapeutic mechanical stimulation.
A compact motor with short mechanical throw limits tissue excursion, supporting controlled and precise application in anatomically sensitive areas.
Adjunct Across Clinical and Procedural Care
Supports quality of care across varied clinical settings.
Extends Clinical Options
Pocket Physio complements hands-on care when direct manual techniques are not tolerated, practical, or appropriate. This supports comfort and engagement in sensitive patients across both clinical treatment and procedural environments.
In dental and orofacial settings, the device may be used during or after procedures to support comfort and ease of movement.
In exercise rehabilitation and group-based environments where individual manual treatment is not feasible, it can support body awareness and readiness for movement prior to participation.
Offers Continuity of Care
Enables structured carryover between sessions, reducing flare-ups and accelerating progression.
Supports Convenient Home Carryover and Adherence
Pocket Physio enables patients to support themselves quickly and conveniently at home or between appointments.
Simple, well-tolerated operation supports self-management strategies and adherence to prescribed home programs.
The device integrates seamlessly as an adjunct to existing clinical interventions, supporting continuity of care beyond the clinic.
Aligns With Contemporary Care Models
Pocket Physio integrates naturally with contemporary pain science and bio-psycho-social models of care.
Aligns With Contemporary Pain Science and Biopsychosocial Care
Pocket Physio integrates naturally with modern clinical frameworks, including pain science, biopsychosocial care, education-led rehabilitation, graded exposure and self-management strategies that support patient autonomy and self-efficacy.
Patient-Friendly by Design
Aims to reduce perceived threat, improve patient comfort, adherence, self-efficacy and participation.
Improve Patient Tolerance, Safety Perception, and Engagement
Pocket Physio is designed to be intuitive, well-tolerated, and easy for patients to use correctly. Controlled output, a small contact surface, and user-regulated pressure support comfort, confidence, and consistent use across sensitive anatomical regions.
Simple, convenient, and quick operations, along with predictable feedback, support adherence in home-based self-management.
Built for Your Field of Care
Physiotherapy
Cervical muscle tension and perceived stiffness
Head and neck musculoskeletal discomfort
High-guarding or sensitised presentations
Home-based self-management support
Non-pharmacological adjunct alongside active rehabilitation
Orofacial
Jaw muscle guarding and overload
Jaw clenching and muscular tension
Localised facial muscle sensitivity
Sensory modulation and tolerance building
Non-pharmacological adjunct to care
Between-session carryover support
Dental / Implant / Oral Surgery
Post-procedure muscle guarding and stiffness
Support for comfortable jaw movement during recovery
Patient comfort and calming support
Non-pharmacological adjunct to care
Home support between appointments
CLINICIAN APPROVED
The Science Behind Vibration
Segmental Sensory Modulation (Gate Control)
Sensory Input & Muscle Spindle Engagement
Central Modulation & Sensorimotor Integration
How It Works
Localised vibration increases activity in fast-conducting, low-threshold mechanoreceptive afferents (Aβ fibres) within cutaneous and deep tissues. Increased non-nociceptive afferent input interacts with inhibitory interneuronal networks involved in segmental sensory processing, influencing the transmission of competing sensory signals.
This mechanism is consistent with the Gate Control framework, in which enhanced afferent input from large-diameter fibres can modulate the excitability of nociceptive pathways at spinal and brainstem levels. The magnitude and direction of modulation depend on stimulus parameters, tissue contact, and the neurophysiological state of the individual.
Rather than acting on tissue structure, this mechanism primarily reflects sensory signal integration within the nervous system.
Clinical effects are context-dependent and influenced by dosage, expectation, sensitivity, and broader biopsychosocial factors.
Clinical Evidence
Core theoretical foundation
- Melzack & Wall (1965) – Original gate control theory.
- Melzack & Wall (1982 update) – Later refinements acknowledging supraspinal influences.
Physiological support
- Lundeberg et al. (1984) – Clinical vibratory analgesia observations.
- Roll et al. (1989) – Mechanoreceptor/afferent activation via vibration.
- Romaiguère et al. (1993) – Motor unit and reflex modulation via vibration.
Contemporary synthesis
- Casale et al. (2022) – Systematic review: vibration analgesia mechanisms, explicitly notes multiple mechanisms beyond simple gate models.
In Your Practice
- Consider when heightened sensory sensitivity or protective guarding is limiting tolerance to touch, positioning, or procedural contact.
- May be used prior to or following hands-on care, procedural work, or movement exposure to influence sensory tolerance and comfort.
- Useful when direct pressure or prolonged contact is poorly tolerated, particularly in sensitised cervico–orofacial and cranial regions.
- Supports a non-pharmacological sensory modulation strategy within broader clinical care plans.
How It Works
Focal vibration can stimulate muscle spindle afferents, particularly primary (Ia) and secondary (II) endings, which are sensitive to changes in muscle length and rate of stretch. Increased afferent discharge during vibration influences spinal reflex excitability and alters proprioceptive input to sensorimotor pathways.
This response is well described in neurophysiology as the tonic vibration response, reflecting enhanced sensory input into spinal and supraspinal motor networks rather than direct mechanical effects on muscle tissue. The resulting changes relate to sensorimotor integration and motor output, not structural tissue modification.
The characteristics of the response depend on vibration frequency, amplitude, contact pressure, and application site, as well as the baseline neurophysiological state of the individual.
Clinical Evidence
Core neurophysiology
Roll et al. (1989) – Microneurographic evidence demonstrating altered muscle spindle afferent discharge during tendon vibration in humans.
Romaiguère et al. (1993) – Quantified changes in motor unit recruitment and stretch reflex behaviour during tonic vibration, confirming engagement of Ia afferent pathways.
Sensorimotor and motor control effects
Albert et al. (2006) – Demonstrated vibration-induced modulation of motor output and sensorimotor processing in human participants.
Barrero-Curiel et al. (2019) – Review of vibration effects on proprioceptive modulation and sensorimotor integration across experimental paradigms.
Mechanistic interpretation
Experimental evidence supports modulation of proprioceptive afferent input and sensorimotor integration rather than direct mechanical effects on muscle or connective tissue structure.
In Your Practice
- Consider when altered proprioceptive input or protective muscle tone is contributing to reduced movement quality, coordination, or tolerance.
- May be used prior to mobility, motor control, or graded loading tasks to influence sensorimotor readiness and movement confidence.
- Short, controlled exposures can be integrated into warm-up or preparation phases under the clinician's judgement.
- Supports modulation of sensory feedback and motor responsiveness rather than attempting to drive structural tissue change.
How It Works
Beyond segmental effects, repeated rhythmic sensory input from localised vibration can influence supraspinal processing within somatosensory and sensorimotor networks.
Neurophysiological responses reflect activity-dependent sensory integration and short-term adaptive changes in how sensory input is processed centrally, rather than direct structural neural reorganisation. These effects are input-dependent and influenced by exposure characteristics, task context, and baseline nervous system state.
This mechanism aligns with contemporary models of sensory-driven modulation and sensorimotor integration rather than structural tissue change.
Clinical Evidence
Human neuroimaging and neurophysiology
- Kolbaşi et al. (2022) – Demonstrated measurable changes in cortical activation patterns and somatosensory processing following localised vibration exposure in human participants.
Contemporary synthesis
- Casale et al. (2022) – Systematic review reporting central nervous system involvement in vibration responses alongside peripheral and segmental mechanisms, supporting a multi-level sensory modulation framework.
In Your Practice
Useful as a demonstration tool during pain neuroscience education and sensory awareness training.
May support graded exposure strategies when movement confidence or sensory predictability is limited.
Reinforces education-led and biopsychosocial models of care through experiential learning.
Appropriate for structured home use when guided by clinician reasoning.
Physiotherapist Approved
Designed & Used by Industry Professionals
Elena, Founder - MPhty MSK & Sports (UniSA)
"Born out of a clinical need."
"I’ve been a physiotherapist for over two decades, and my mission has always been to empower people to support themselves. Pocket Physio® was born out of a clinical need for a gentle, precise tool suitable for sensitive neck, jaw, and head regions. After years of refining this approach in clinical practice, it became clear that patients wanted a simple way to continue using it beyond the clinic. Too often, devices are either too harsh, insufficiently precise, or impractical for everyday use. Pocket Physio® was designed to be simple, precise, and convenient — supporting small, meaningful resets that integrate naturally into daily life and clinical care."
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Your FAQs, Answered
Pocket Physio® uses precise 40Hz mechanical oscillation, a modality well-researched in physiotherapy for:
- Sensory modulation via Pacinian/Meissner corpuscles (Gate Control theory)
- Muscle tone regulation through muscle spindle feedback
- Nervous system calming when combined with breathwork
It’s an ARTG-registered medical device designed by a physiotherapist with 25 years of clinical experience, including 10+ years of integrating vibration therapy into practice.