Body workers can use tuning forks to create vibration, this energy is said to have a healing effect by relaxing muscles and soothing irritated nerves.

Tuning forks have the dimensions, weight, and general structure to produce a pure set frequency when activated. It is both a visual and physical experience with a manual application.

Most tuning forks are made of aluminum and the length of the prongs determines the pitch (frequency). When tapped, the two prongs vibrate, producing sound waves. Matrix’s tuning forks have custom handles for added comfort while being held. The Matrix handles produce longer resonance time than tuning forks without the handles therefore reducing the re-activation by half.

Equine Uses & Applications

Tuning Forks are used for relaxation. Chiropractors and massage therapists find them beneficial before adjustments and massage to relax tissue. Non-professionals like how easy it is to give their horses a feel-good treatment.

Tuning Forks are very relaxing and a nice way to incorporate a soothing treatment without much work for the user. It’s uncomplicated and pure in a sense that no machine is required. Tuning forks become an extension of your hands without the work of using your body in traditional massage. The treatments produce a light massage with gentle vibrations penetrating deeply to help unwind the fascia.

When addressing lameness is the objective, the tuning forks are used to help release any tightly-bound fascia. Depending on the issue, tuning forks may be all that is needed to resolve the issue. With more involved cases, a tuning fork session can be a helpful preparation for a chiropractic treatment. For massage practitioners, tuning forks provide a break from the strenuous hands-on work before the traditional massage session begins.

If a horse objects to the tuning forks, use that information to help further determine the issue at hand. For example, an observation shared by a user was that one of her horses truly objected to the tuning forks on the ting points (along the coronet band). The horse was showing on and off lameness, so she decided to have that foot radiographed. The x-ray showed a fracture in the horse’s coffin bone.

The Matrix Tuning Forks can be used for several types of treatments:

• Any area that is tight, bound, locked, or sore.
• Acupoints to stimulate the Chinese meridian system.
• Anywhere you are drawn to for a feel good massaging treatment.
• As a way to prepare the tissue for a traditional massage session or chiropractic work.

Examples of two treatment styles for a horse’s hip (method #3 and #1)

Treatment Steps & Methods

The Tuning Forks are activated by striking them against something hard, but that does not damage them. An ideal option is the Matrix Striker. To start the vibration of the forks, strike the surface with a loose, relaxed wrist. When the vibrations stop, re-strike and continue.

Apply in one of three ways:

1. Strike and hold handles with the handle ends touching the body.
2. Strike and hold handles with your fists touching the body (vibrations go through your hands into the body tissue).
3. Strike and hold handles, then hover end of fork near an area creating a standing wave pattern.

Note: Do not touch the fork ends to the horse’s body during use. This will stop the vibrations.

Other Uses & Names for Tuning Forks

Tuning forks have been around quite a few years now as bodywork tools. However, the more common functions of tuning forks with their naturally created exact frequencies is for instrument calibration (tuning pianos and guitars) teaching physics, and voice training. Tuning forks can be found in the doctors office for such uses as a simple quick test for fractures called facilitation of bone conduction test. If it hurts like heck when the felt the vibration of a tuning fork at the injured area you should be check further for a fracture.

For therapy, the tuning forks are sometimes packaged in sets covering a variety of frequencies and labeled with fancy and esoteric names. Names like ohm, angle forks, DNA fork, solar harmonics, crystal resonators and charka sets. Along with the esoteric names come specific frequencies. Since we specialize in equine therapy efficiency is important and found the 64 HZ accomplishes relaxation prior to adjusting, massage or other bodywork. 

Article Updated Aug 2020: Matrix C64 HZ Tuning Forks are in stock. 

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