Home Page for Indiana Academy of Osteopathy

Frequently Asked Questions

Click HERE for the current pricing and order sheet. We ship worldwide! For anything not covered on the order sheet, you can email me. You can also call the office at (317-228-9270). We are in Indiana in the Eastern time zone. If you choose to call, please leave a clear message about what you need and how to reach you. Please leave a phone number twice and your email address. We will then send you information on how to ship in a repair or where to send your new percussor after you return the order sheet.

Payment is accepted via credit card (American Express, Visa, and Master Card), check/money order, international wire transfer, or PayPal ONLY. Payment must be made before we ship your percussor. No purchase orders are accepted unless they are prepaid. Packages are shipped via UPS/USPS with insurance unless prior arrangements are made.

The Foredom percussor has a motor in the base, with a shaft that drives the percussor head in the handle. The motor will generate EMF radiation, but at a distance from the patient and the operator. Since EMFs dissipate with the square of the distance, keeping the operator and the patient away from the main EMF radiation is important. The speed control is also variable, allowing multiple speeds.

Other percussion instruments on the market (VibraCussor, Erchonia Percussor) have the motor in the hand piece. This means that, as the operator, your hand will always be subjected to EMF radiation from the motor every time you use these instruments. The patient will also be exposed to EMF’s. The speed controls on these instruments are stepped (not fully variable) and offer fewer speeds than the Foredom.

Absolutely! If you live in a country outside the US, we can ship to you. We can order a percussor for your country's voltage and power cord requirements at no extra charge. We can then ship it to you anywhere in the world. International shipping and insurance rates apply. You are responsible for any customs charges when the percussor enters your country.

Yes. We can take a new percussor, apply the upgrade, place it back in the box, and send it right out to you (this also applies to international orders).

The easiest way to get a percussor repaired is to email me a description of what your percussor is (or is not) doing and a photo of the problem. I can then send an estimate of the repair cost. You can then send the percussor (or parts) in for repair. If any extra work is needed, you will be consulted before it is performed.

The shipping address is:

Percussion-Hammer.com

515 East 750 North

Lebanon, IN 46052

317-228-9270

Absolutely! Shipping rates have risen considerably in the last few years (so expect to pay up to $60 for one-way shipping with insurance to the continental US). While I am happy to work with customers on shipping with the lowest-cost carrier, I strongly prefer that your parcel be insured for at least replacement cost (we usually insure a minimum of $750). Accidents happen. An insured parcel will at least get your percussor replaced.

It takes approximately two weeks for parts and percussors to arrive from Foredom. If any other modifications are needed after they arrive at the office, they will be performed prior to shipping to your location. If we have your percussor or parts in stock at our office, expect shipment within a few days of your order.

In most cases, yes. Foredom has made a few models over the years. There were models on stands, models with the speed control in the head of the percussor, and models where the shaft came out of the motor at a 90-degree angle. Assuming that parts are still available, your percussor can find new life. Broken or worn-out parts can be replaced; motors can be reconditioned; power cords and electronics can be replaced, etc. If you have an older model and would like it to work like new, send me a photo, and we can begin the repair process.

In most cases, yes. I would need to know the model number and have a photo of your percussor before I could tell you if it can be upgraded.

If you are attempting to replace the pad on your machine, the replacement pad does not come with adhesive. You can use hot glue or two-sided carpet tape (my choice, and fairly easy to use) to get the pad to stick to the holder. If you need help with this part, please send me an email.

You are welcome to try it yourself. However, I will not talk you through how to modify your percussor. Nor will I send you the parts to do it yourself. Please don’t take offense to this, but understand that I am responsible for the outcome either way (either directly or by reputation). I want to ensure that your percussor performs to a high standard, and my way to make that happen is to do it myself. That way I can guarantee the outcome.

All electrical and mechanical parts have a lifespan. If your percussor is not performing to its original specifications, it is best to get it serviced by a qualified technician. In that situation, it is recommended to send your unit in for repairs. We would be happy to diagnose and repair it for you.

The simple answer is no. Foredom no longer makes a percussor on a rolling stand. They did about 30 years ago. The simple solution for needing to move the percussor is to get the long shaft version. This allows you to keep the motor base on the floor and reach almost the entire patient without moving the base. I can fabricate a custom cart for your percussor, but due to the time involved in custom fabrication, it would be an expensive option.

Foredom does make a foot switch that serves as the unit's on/off switch. It plugs into your unit and gives you foot control of the A/C power. They also make a foot control with built-in power and speed. This foot control cannot be upgraded to the more precise speed control.

If you live in the US, where shipping is less expensive, then a six-pack of replacement pads and a tube of grease will keep you going for a few years. Other parts are readily available and usually ship quickly.

If you are international, where shipping costs continue to rise sharply, it is usually cheaper to get more parts up front. A six-pack of pads, a tube of grease, a replacement shaft and sheath, a replacement pad holder, and a set of brushes for your motor should cover anything that would routinely go wrong/wear out, saving you shipping costs and downtime later.

If well maintained (performing lubrication regularly, replacing pads when worn, etc.), your percussor should last you your entire practice career. It may need a new set of brushes or a new shaft/sheath periodically (the interval depends on how hard it is used and how long it is used). The percussor, however, does not like to be dropped, pulled around by its A/C cord, or abused. These things will drastically shorten its lifespan.

If your percussor needs repair, please go to the Sales page to learn more. After you ship your percussor instrument in, I will evaluate it and send you an estimate before work begins. If I have parts on hand, your repair should take less than a week. If I have to order parts, that will add to the repair time. I do try to keep most parts in stock, though.