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SPICES, School of Medical Sciences  |  Health Campus, USM

CLINICAL EXAMINATION USING TUNING FORK

fork

 


The tuning fork was created by John Shore in 1711 for musical purposes. This device is a steel fork that produces a sound vibration at a particular frequency when struck.

Indications

  1. Hearing test (256/512 Hz)

Rinne and Weber tests are used to differentiate conductive and sensory hearing loss.

  1. Neurological examination (128 Hz)

Vibratory sensitivity (paresthesia) is determined through contact between the tuning fork and bone prominences. A reduction or absence of vibratory sensitivity may indicate injury or disease of the peripheral nerves or dorsal columns of the spinal cord.

  1.           Fracture assessment (128 Hz)

128 Hz tuning fork and stethoscope have also been used to differentiate sound conduction between injured and healthy limbs.

  1.  Bronchial hygiene therapy (3 and 25 Hz)

The optimal tuning fork vibration frequency is expected to generate vibrations in the thorax, facilitating bronchial hygiene in situations in which manual therapy is contraindicated, such as in cases of ribs fractures or osteoporosis.

How to use the instrument


Rinne test
https://youtu.be/Q3tWWGMWu6E


Weber test
https://youtu.be/kjdH0D2MWLA


Neurological (sensory) examination
https://youtu.be/KcZ_Ga9txwQ


Fracture assessment
https://youtu.be/X8EwURzQAcE

References
Wahid NWB, Hogan CJ, Attia M. Weber Test. [Updated 2023 Jul 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet].
Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526135/

de Alcântara, J.R., Manzano, R.M., Gonçalves, M.G. et al. A new tuning fork with different vibration frequencies as an aid to bronchopulmonary hygiene physiotherapy. Multidiscip Respir Med 9, 41 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/2049-6958-9-41