Many people are using vibration therapy devices that use oscillating vibrations to shake their bodies up and down, yet no scientific evidence supports their claims that these help prevent osteoporosis. While vibration therapy might help with improving balance or preventing falls which could potentially have life changing consequences.
Vibration therapy uses low-frequency signals to alter bone cells called osteocytes. Research with reproductive age sheep has demonstrated that whole-body vibration therapy can stop bone loss and strengthen trabecular strength.
Benefits
Vibration therapy can help strengthen muscles, increase bone density, improve balance and movement and decrease pain while helping prevent falls or hip fractures. There are various forms of vibration therapy, and some use tools with mechanical vibration while others utilize sound waves; it has even been suggested as a possible treatment option for osteoporosis, anxiety, back pain and multiple sclerosis.
The skeleton constantly remodels as it responds to mechanical signals generated through daily physical activity and exercise, such as stimulating bone cells to produce osteoblasts and producing and distributing calcium throughout its bones. Without such signals, however, skeletal health would quickly decline leading to injuries or diseases requiring costly treatments.
Scientists are studying whether vibration therapy can stimulate these signals. Astronauts who participated in early space missions experienced severe muscle and bone atrophy upon returning home; many experienced difficulty walking and adjusting to gravity. It’s likely these astronauts would have benefitted from vibration therapy to strengthen their bones and muscles.
Studies show that vibration can stimulate bone cell growth and remodeling. This suggests that vibration therapy could be an effective treatment option for osteoporosis, although further investigation of specific effects of various vibration types on bone cells will need to take place before making this recommendation.
Animal studies conducted on vibration therapy have demonstrated its ability to increase bone mineral density and improve microarchitecture, while vibration stimulation upped osteogenic gene expression such as Runx2, BMP-2 and OPG in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells while attenuating osteoclast differentiation, thus bidirectionally regulating bone metabolism.
Studies suggest that vibration therapy can enhance lumbar spine bone density and skeletal microarchitecture. One such study combined vibration therapy with bisphosphonate drug Teriparatide to enhance lumbar bone density as well as biomechanical properties of femur bone, suggesting vibration therapy can be used alongside other osteoporosis treatments to lower risk of fractures; however some have cast doubt upon these claims.
Side effects
Studies have demonstrated the beneficial impact vibration therapy can have on bones. It can increase bone density and strength while improving mobility overall and relieving pain associated with osteoporosis. Vibration therapy may also be used in combination with other treatments such as exercise, medication and diet changes for osteoporosis – however before beginning this therapy it’s important to consult your physician who will recommend an individual plan based on your specific situation.
Vibration therapy entails standing on a device that vibrates your body, which creates mechanical stress on the bones. Studies have demonstrated its efficacy at increasing bone mass and stimulating osteoblast activity – promising treatments for osteoporosis that may even slow its onset; furthermore, vibration therapy helps increase balance and flexibility – both important qualities for those living with the condition.
Two primary forms of vibration therapy exist: whole body vibration (WBV) and low intensity vibration (LIV). WBV devices resemble large bathroom scales in that they emit high-frequency vibrations which travel up the legs into hip and spine areas; these devices are typically found at gyms and fitness studios and range in price between PS100 to PS3000.
LIV is designed for home use at a much lower frequency than WBV and may look similar to personal trainer equipment, with its machine similar to one used by personal trainers. LIV vibration therapy may be less intense and more suitable for older individuals or those with limited mobility than WBV; additionally it has shown promise at reducing bone loss, although its efficacy against postmenopausal osteoporosis remains uncertain.
Studies on vibration therapy have provided evidence of its benefits in animal models and human subjects alike, but clinical trial results have varied depending on frequency, amplitude, device type and patient populations involved. Other research suggests duration and frequency as being essential components.
One study discovered that using a vibration plate five days a week for one year significantly increased bone mass in reproductive-age female sheep using it on their hind legs; this occurred as it vibrated vertically 30 times per second with force 1/3 that of gravity, increasing bone density significantly in reproductive age female sheep’s hind legs. Another research team discovered women aged 65 or under could benefit from brief low intensity vibration treatments to treat both femoral and spinal bone loss – high compliance groups showed 2.177% improvement and 1.5% in their bone mineral density respectively.
Devices
Many vibration devices are being sold and promoted without adequate evidence that they assist people. These platforms you stand on that rapidly shake can often be found as weight-loss devices or muscle strength enhancers; some are so powerful they cause discomfort or dizziness while other research-backed ones send low intensity signals that have been proven beneficial for bone and muscle health.
UT MD Anderson experts suggest people using fitness devices should exercise caution when adding these to their workouts and consult their care teams prior to using any device. People using such devices should listen closely to how their bodies are responding and modify or discontinue any physical activity if experiencing pain or unusual fatigue, they say.
Vibration therapy can be classified by its frequency, amplitude and acceleration of vibrations used. These categories include whole body vibration (WBV), which provides high-frequency signals across the entire body; low intensity vibration (LIV), which provides lower frequency signals; and local muscle vibration (LMV). Different vibration patterns have distinct mechanical stimulation effects on neuromuscular activation through neuromuscular stimulation: for instance synchronous vibration provides bilateral stimuli while alternating vibration induces alternate muscle activation.
Conclusions
Vibration therapy employs mechanical stress to regulate the biological behavior of osteoblasts and osteoclasts – two key bone metabolism cells – helping maintain an equilibrium between bone formation and resorption. Vibration therapy serves as an effective noninvasive complementary strategy for treating osteoporosis (12).
As with walking and other weight-bearing physical activities, vibration plates deliver mechanical signals that subtly challenge your bones and muscles – this helps build muscle strength while also helping prevent osteoporosis and decrease fracture risk.
Research indicates that whole-body vibration can improve bone health by increasing bone mineral density (BMD), muscle strength and balance. It also reduces falls while increasing trabecular microarchitecture – linked with improved fracture resistance. Unfortunately, some studies may oversimplify its benefits by grouping people who have low BMD in either osteopenia or osteoporosis into one category, and it remains unknown whether vibration provides greater benefits at earlier stages.
Researchers are exploring the specific mechanisms by which vibration helps improve bone and muscle health, including understanding its impact on various types of bone cells as well as investigating long-term effects. One such vibration-induced acceleration signaling pathway activates bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to differentiate into osteoblasts that promote bone formation as well as enhance osteocyte differentiation while suppressing osteoclast precursor fusion; all with the goal of favoring new bone formation over resorption.
Vibration therapy helps create an ideal biomechanical stress environment in bone tissue by increasing Wnt/b catenin signaling and decreasing receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio, providing an effective strategy to combat osteoporosis by stimulating bone growth while protecting existing density (38).
Knowledge regarding vibration training for bone loss remains limited, yet its potential to enhance BMD, muscle strength and balance in postmenopausal women deserves further investigation. More specifically, research should focus on understanding its long-term impact and determine its effects on particular bone cells.
