Vibration plates are platforms people stand on that vibrate. They are used for a variety of reasons, from weight loss to pain relief.
A good vibration plate for osteoporosis can help strengthen your bones and reduce the risk of fractures. But it’s not a replacement for regular physical activity.
Researchers have discovered that low intensity vibration exercise (LIV) has multiple regulatory effects on bone metabolism, promoting osteoblast and inhibiting osteoclast activity, and optimizing bone microarchitecture.
1. Increases Bone Mineralization
Vibration therapy (also known as vibration training, mechano-stimulation, and biomechanical stimulation) involves exposure to low-load mechanical stimuli that promote bone formation and inhibit osteoclast activity, optimizing bone microstructure. This non-pharmacological approach achieves multiple regulatory effects on bone metabolism, providing a strong theoretical basis for its clinical use in treating osteoporosis [24].
In one study, 116 postmenopausal women received either whole-body vibration or a control group treatment. Vibration was delivered at a frequency of 30 Hz and an amplitude of 5 mm for 10 minutes, five times per week, for six months. Bone density was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry before the beginning and after the end of the study. The results showed that the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine increased significantly in the group receiving vibration. The increase in BMD was accompanied by an improvement in vertebral shape, which is a significant indicator of bone strength.
Hip fractures are the most common type of osteoporotic fracture. They can cause severe disability and result in death in 20% to 30% of cases. They are often triggered by sudden falls or trauma, and most occur in the lumbar spine and hips. The risk of hip fractures can be exacerbated by many factors, including senility in men and post-menopausal changes in women, protein deficiency, lack of exercise, steroid use, and endocrine disorders like hypothyroidism and Cushing’s disease [2].
NPR’s health correspondent, Mary Bloom, suffers from osteopenia and uses the FDA-approved Osteoboost belt. The belt looks and feels a little like a large bathroom scale, and it sends vibrations through your feet, up into your legs and into your hips and lower back. The vibrations stimulate bone-building cells called osteoblasts. The company that makes the device says it’s a safe alternative to drugs for osteoporosis.
Drug therapy for osteoporosis has many limitations. Multimorbidity in elderly patients limits drug options, and the risk of adverse drug reactions increases with age. Moreover, there is a limited number of drugs that target the musculoskeletal system. Vibration plate therapy, as a non-pharmacological analogue of dynamic physical loading and exercise, can restore the anabolic effect on bone and muscle that is lost with age and disease onset [25].
2. Increases Bone Density
Vibration therapy, also known as vibration training or mechano-stimulation, enables muscles to contract and relax many times per second through mechanical vibrations delivered by standing on an oscillating platform. The constant contraction and relaxation of the muscles place good stress on the bones, which then respond to this stress and grow stronger, making them less prone to fractures.
This process is called osteogenesis, and despite its slow pace, it has been shown to be effective in humans with postmenopausal osteoporosis. The researchers of a clinical trial involving women with postmenopausal osteoporosis compared those who participated in whole-body vibration exercise to a placebo group and found that the vibration group lost only 0.5% of their bone strength while the placebo group lost 2.84% over a year.
Bone density, which is an important determinant of fracture risk, can be measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), a noninvasive method that uses a low dose of ionizing radiation to measure bone density by measuring the uptake of calcium and phosphorous in the bones, revealing the amount of bone mass present. A low bone density level, called osteoporosis, can result in a number of issues including reduced height, back pain, and the development of the codfish-like appearance of the vertebrae known as kyphosis.
A recent study by Stolzenberg et al involved 68 volunteers who were split into two groups, one of which received resistance exercises and balance training with the use of a vibration machine while the other group only performed the balance exercises without vibration. The results showed that both the resistance and vibration groups saw significant increases in bone density, with the lumbar spine showing the greatest gains in denser bone.
In a similar study, Butzloff et al investigated the effect of vibration therapy on bone and fracture callus quality in ovariectomized rats, finding that six months of high-frequency and magnitude vibration therapy boosted the lumbar spine’s bone density while improving the quality of the fractured femur bone’s microarchitecture.
Another recent study by Gusi et al examined the impact of vibration therapy on rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and found that vibration stimulation activated osteogenic differentiation in BMSCs, increased expression of Wnt/
3. Increases Bone Strength
Vibration plate therapy (also known as vibration training, vibrotherapy or biomechanical stimulation) uses a pivotal or oscillating platform to generate low-load mechanical vibrations with an amplitude of less than 1
Bone density and strength are important for reducing the risk of fractures, especially in older people. Fractures due to osteoporosis can have life altering and even fatal consequences. Osteoporosis is characterized by a gradual loss of bone density which leads to microarchitectural deterioration of the bones, making them fragile and brittle.
Many studies have shown that whole body vibration therapy increases bone density, reduces the rate of bone loss, and improves balance in post-menopausal women with osteoporosis. However, more research is needed to determine if vibration plate therapy can help prevent or reduce the risk of broken bones in people with osteoporosis.
In preclinical studies, vibration therapy has been shown to promote bone formation through the activation of osteogenic pathways in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and by upregulating expression of key genes involved in these processes, such as runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), bone morphogenetic protein 2, osteocyte proteinase-2, osteoprotegerin, and Wnt3a/b-catenin signaling. Furthermore, vibration therapy decreases the activity of osteoclasts, thereby inhibiting bone loss and improving bone mineralization.
These findings suggest that vibration therapy may be a promising alternative to pharmacological treatment for osteoporosis. Vibration therapy does not carry the same risks as long-term pharmacological treatments, requires minimal patient compliance, and is inexpensive.
Vibration therapy can be used in addition to other therapies, including weight-bearing exercise, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake, and healthy eating habits. A primary care physician at Northwell Health in New York, Dr. Eric Ascher, says vibration therapy is not a replacement for good bone-health habits and recommends patients continue to follow their doctors’ advice on bone-healthy behaviors. He also cautions that the vibration devices, which cost between $1,000 and $2,000 out of pocket and are available over-the-counter, should only be used on a limited basis, as excessive use can cause musculoskeletal injuries.
4. Increases Muscle Strength
Vibration plate therapy is a type of vibration exercise that uses vibratory stimulation to promote bone and muscle health. The technology, also known as whole body vibration or mechano-stimulation, has been used by space agencies to help astronauts regain bone and muscle mass after returning from long-term space missions. It is also popular among people looking to increase their bone strength without taking medications for osteoporosis.
When muscles apply mechanical stress to bones, the bones react by forming new bone or mineralizing preexisting bone, which strengthens the bones and reduces their fragility. Vibration plates are designed to mimic the frequency of muscle-generated impulses, and can stimulate osteoblast activity and prevent disuse osteoporosis.
The vibrations generated by the machine can be a low intensity or high-intensity. The lower intensity machines look like bathroom scales and release tiny up and down vibrations about 30 times each second. The higher-intensity units use a different technique that produces vibrations that are more powerful but less uncomfortable for most patients.
Both types of vibration exercise can be beneficial for people with osteoporosis, but the research is mixed. Some studies have found that vibration therapy increases bone density, while others have found no effect. It is also unclear if it will help improve bone strength or reduce the risk of broken bones.
In one study, researchers found that women who received vibration therapy lost 2.84% less of their bone mass over a year than those who did not receive the treatment. The researchers speculated that this was because of the vibration therapy, which increases the amount of bone that is reformed and reduced the rate at which it is destroyed.
Another study found that six months of vibration therapy significantly boosted the lumbar spine’s bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The researchers believe that the results suggest that the vibration therapy could be an effective alternative or supplement to current treatment methods for postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. However, it is important to remember that this type of therapy should not be viewed as a substitute for a healthy lifestyle, including dietary and pharmacological treatments.