Osteoporosis causes fractures that are painful, disabling, and potentially life-threatening. Vibration therapy is an innovative nonpharmacologic intervention with potential to increase bone density.
Vibration therapy works by stimulating muscle contractions to create mechanical stress on bone tissue, leading to new bone formation. Studies also indicate that vibration therapy increases Wnt signaling pathway activity while simultaneously decreasing RANKL/OPG ratio to bidirectionally regulate bone metabolism balance.
What is vibration therapy?
Vibration therapy works by using vibration to stimulate muscles and bones. This therapy can be used for various reasons, including improving balance and movement, relieving pain, increasing bone density and muscle strength and increasing bone density. There are two forms of vibration therapy: whole body vibration (WBV) and localized vibration therapy (LVT). WBV involves standing or doing exercises on a vibrating platform which transmits vibrations all throughout your body; LVT uses handheld devices that apply direct vibration directly onto specific areas of your body with different vibration types–most vibration therapies produce steady hums.
Many individuals living with osteoporosis are exploring vibration therapy as a means to both enhance their health and reduce fracture risk, yet scientific evidence remains mixed: some studies indicate whole-body vibration may help increase bone density while others have found no benefit at all; it’s unclear whether its effects linger after you stop treatment.
“Vibration plates” are devices used for vibratory therapy that look similar to large bathroom scales and release micro vibrations approximately 30 times every second, traveling up the legs into your hips and lower back. You can find vibration plates for sale both at fitness stores as well as online. Most vibratory therapy plates work at around 1/3rd the force of gravity; some devices marketed as exercise equipment use much greater force that could result in falls and injuries.
Vibration therapy works by stimulating muscle spindles, which are receptors on your muscles that send signals to your brain about when and how much a particular muscle stretches or contracts, helping determine how much force to exert when moving, standing, or relaxing.
Researchers are investigating how vibration plates might help support your bone and muscle health during cancer treatments, particularly if there are side effects such as bone loss. Their aim is to find ways vibration therapy could work alongside other methods to mitigate or delay further bone and muscle deterioration.
How does vibration therapy work?
Vibration therapy uses mechanical vibrations to contract and relax muscles throughout the body. It is used by physical therapists in certain physical therapy clinics and gyms, and sold home-based machines (Marodyne LiV). Although vibration therapy has been promoted as being beneficial for bone health benefits, little evidence supports such claims.
Some studies have demonstrated the efficacy of vibration therapy for individuals without osteoporosis. Such studies typically found that those who used vibration therapy daily for 20 to 30 minutes had higher bone density in their legs compared with people who don’t use vibration therapy, though other research had no such positive results. Unfortunately, other research had no conclusive answers about its ability to help prevent broken bones among older adults with osteoporosis.
Consideration should be given to both the type and intensity of vibration machines you utilize for weight loss, and their intensity. Vibration machines may send vibrations up and down, front to back or side-to-side; some machines target whole body vibration while others target specific muscle groups; intensity levels as well as frequency and duration may have an impactful influence on results.
Before engaging in vibration therapy, UT MD Anderson experts strongly suggest consulting a healthcare professional first. Some vibration devices can be too strong and could result in injuries; those suffering from fragile or broken bones should carefully consider the type of vibration, its frequency and amplitude when choosing their therapy device.
Local vibration therapy targets specific muscle groups and may help address balance issues related to osteoporosis. A 2021 study demonstrated its benefits by improving balance and gait among subacute stroke patients and increasing muscle strength among older adults suffering from sarcopenia — the gradual deterioration of muscle mass that accompanies ageing.
Falls are a leading cause of injury and death among older adults living with osteoporosis. Fall prevention exercises should be undertaken by all, but especially so for those with osteoporosis because falls may lead to life-threatening fractures. A 2024 study demonstrated how using dance-like exercise, balance training, and vibration plate training reduced falls risk among postmenopausal women living with osteoporosis.
What are the benefits of vibration therapy?
Researchers have discovered that vibration therapy can significantly enhance bone density, muscle strength, balance and quality of life in individuals living with osteoporosis. Furthermore, vibration therapy has been proven to reduce pain and stiffness as well as enhance gait and posture – often achieved by standing on “vibration plates”, commonly found at most gyms.
Vibration therapy is a safe, non-invasive option for increasing bone density. It can be combined with weight-bearing exercise or calcium supplements to improve quality of life and decrease fracture risk, with many people reporting improvements from using this therapy alone or alongside these options.
Vibration therapy works to reproduce the vibrations produced by muscles contraction and can stimulate bone growth and strength gains in postural stability muscles, including postural stability muscles that support postural stability. Vibrations also assist with bone resorption processes that help avoid excessive buildup of extra bone and reduce fracture risk.
Studies have demonstrated that vibration therapy can significantly increase bone density and strength in animal models as well as postmenopausal women, due to mechanical vibrations upregulating osteogenesis-related protein expression and encouraging osteoblast proliferation. Furthermore, vibrations inhibit osteoclast activity while simultaneously decreasing the RANKL/OPG ratio, helping balance bone metabolism (25).
One study with 202 postmenopausal women demonstrated that short periods of low intensity vibration therapy could prevent spinal and femoral bone loss; however, results varied based on vibration frequency, device type and individual responses.
More research must be conducted to ascertain the efficacy of vibration therapy for improving bone density and preventing fractures, although evidence is encouraging. Although using a vibration machine could potentially help, it is wise to consult your physician first if you have had previous fractures, have heart or vascular conditions, or experience symptoms associated with them such as pain. Be wary if using one as they contain high vibration levels that could potentially cause injury if misused improperly; additionally these machines should not be used by individuals who possess cochlear implants or similar surgically fitted hearing aids due to high vibration levels that they emit when operating them – these machines must not be suitable.
What are the risks of vibration therapy?
Numerous devices that vibrate while you stand or exercise on them have generated considerable interest, yet experts at UT MD Anderson caution against trying one without knowing all the facts first. Some studies show vibration therapy may help increase bone density or decrease fracture risks; other research, however, is less conclusive and hasn’t found it effective for postmenopausal women living with osteoporosis.
As it relates to health needs, different vibration types and forces may make an impactful statement about a person’s wellbeing. Whole Body Vibration (WBV) machines found at gyms or fitness studios send high frequency vibration signals through your entire body; these may be more suitable for individuals already active and in good physical shape.
Local Mus Vibration (LMV) therapy is a less intensive form of vibration therapy. Similar to bathroom scales, LMV machines send gentle up and down vibrations through legs and lower spine for therapeutic effect. Although less aggressive than WBV plates, studies have been done on LMV as a form of vibration therapy.
LMV is proven safe for most adults, making it an appealing option for people living with osteoporosis who cannot or refuse to exercise regularly. One study with 202 postmenopausal women demonstrated that regular use of low-intensity vibration was linked to higher bone density compared to a control group who didn’t utilize such devices.
Dizziness and fainting are two of the more commonly reported side effects of vibration therapy, especially if you sit passively for 20 minutes or more without moving. They may also occur if trying the therapy too quickly or with too high an intensity setting; those with weak or fractured bones should steer clear from forms that work at forces greater than 1/3 of gravity, such as those which use forces greater than 1/3 of gravity as this may worsen any dizziness they might be feeling.
Vibration therapy can be combined with other treatments for osteoporosis, such as anti-estrogen medications and calcium supplements to address osteoporosis. Pagnotti’s lab has demonstrated how vibration therapy used twice daily for 10-20 minutes five times weekly can enhance bone strength in mice treated with breast cancer drugs; they’re now investigating if using vibration machines similarly can promote bone growth while slowing osteoporosis progression in people who’ve had breast cancer.
