Vibration therapy is an alternative form of dynamic loading used in clinical trials to promote bone health.
Osteoporosis is an incapacitating condition in which bones become fragile and brittle over time, potentially leading to life-altering fractures. Though osteoporosis may be brought on by age, medications, diet and lifestyle factors, there are ways of avoiding its development altogether.
Frequency
For vibration therapy to work effectively, you must choose an appropriate frequency. Frequency refers to how often per second that the platform vibrates up and down; 20-50Hz frequencies have been proven effective at stimulating osteoblast cells which build bone; while higher frequencies (50-100Hz) cause muscles to contract and relax repeatedly helping build strength over time.
Vibration therapy is used to strengthen bones in people suffering from osteoporosis, a condition in which weak and brittle bones increase fracture risk. Treatment entails standing for 10-20 minutes a week on a vibrating platform to strengthen them; in addition to vibration therapy you should eat healthy, exercise regularly and take any prescribed medication from your physician.
Researchers conducted one study, published in Clinical Interventions in Aging, that revealed how vibration therapy can increase bone density among postmenopausal women. Research participants included 28 postmenopausal women randomly assigned either to a vibration therapy or control group. Women randomly selected for vibration therapy received six months of high frequency and magnitude vibration treatment delivered while standing. Researchers performed dual-energy X-ray absorptimetry to measure participants’ lumbar spine bone mineral density before and after treatment; they discovered that women in the vibration therapy group experienced an increase in bone density over six months whereas control group members experienced a decline.
Scientists theorized that vibration therapy worked by slightly stressing bones. This activates bone cells called osteocytes, which signal other cells to form and repair bones more efficiently for denser, stronger bones.
Although studies have demonstrated the advantages of vibration therapy, more research must be conducted into how different factors – frequency, amplitude and exercise routine – impact its effectiveness. Still, many patients report positive outcomes from using vibration therapy to enhance bone health and increase muscle strength.
Amplitude
Physical loading’s anabolic effects are disturbed when physical activity decreases, but vibration therapy offers a mechanical stimulus similar to dynamic exercise that may provide similar anabolic benefits. Vibration’s cyclic nature may stimulate musculoskeletal systems by increasing muscle stiffness and activating gap junction communication; additionally it affects osteocytes which build and maintain bone mineral content – all beneficial factors when treating conditions like pain/injury/inflammatory diseases/osteoporosis/sarcopenia/loss of skeletal muscle mass).
Whole-body vibration therapy has been found to increase bone density for those living with osteoporosis and may also help improve balance and posture. Studies have also indicated that vibration can boost muscle strength. Before trying a vibration plate for yourself it is wise to consult your physician first to make sure it’s suitable.
Vibration increases anabolic signaling to the musculoskeletal system by stimulating mesenchymal stem cells and osteoblasts to increase activity, likely as a result of vibration accelerating cell nuclei and creating mechanical signals which induce expression of B-catenin protein as well as gap junction communication [1].
Vibration could also play a key role in osteogenic differentiation by restricting MSC adipogenic commitment and increasing bone mineral density by improving circulation, which brings more nutrients directly to sites of bone formation. Furthermore, vibration lowers expression of osteoclast-forming molecules like RANKL which surge during unloading and prevents excessive bone resorption through gap junction communication between osteocytes.
One study involved 49 participants divided into three groups; group 1 underwent whole-body vibration for 25 minutes twice weekly for four months; group 2 trained using magnetic therapy and group 3 received standard pharmacological therapy; both treatment groups showed significant increases in bone density compared with their respective control groups.
Though these studies show promising results, more research must be conducted in order to ascertain if vibration therapy can provide a viable alternative to traditional treatments for osteoporosis and sarcopenia such as antidepressants, bisphosphonates, calcium/vitamin D supplements and hormone replacement therapies.
Time
About 10 million adults over 50 have serious bone loss known as osteoporosis and over 43 million more suffer from low bone density (osteopenia). Osteoporosis is an increasingly prevalent condition causing bones to weaken and increase the risk of fracture, including more frequently affecting women than men; its consequences often lead to spine fracture, leading to quality of life declines for all concerned. Hormone therapy, medication and physical activity are used as traditional treatments; vibration therapy provides a non-pharmacological alternative approach that helps both treat bone loss by protecting and strengthening bones against further loss.
Evidence indicates that vibration therapy is effective as a treatment for osteoporosis. Studies show that vibration can stimulate bone cell growth and increase bone density while simultaneously strengthening muscles, improving balance, postural control and postural control.
As opposed to pharmaceutical treatments that primarily focus on preventing bone resorption, vibration therapy initiates anabolic processes while mitigating catabolic signals. Furthermore, vibration’s mechanical signal is self-targeted within the musculoskeletal system without producing off-target effects such as joint pain or fatigue.
Stolzenberg et al conducted a study published in Journal of Musculoskeletal Neuronal Interactions which explored the effect of whole-body vibration therapy on bone density among 68 postmenopausal women. Half were given balance training and resistance exercises while others received whole-body vibration therapy for nine months – both groups experienced reduced bone loss but it was stronger among those receiving whole-body vibration.
Vibration exercise is an ideal way to boost bone density without weight-lifting or high intensity muscle strength training, according to NASA. Load-Resistant Energetic Exercise or LRE as it’s commonly referred to is similar to High Intensity Interval Training but differs in that it doesn’t utilize resistance training as heavily.
Bone Health Technologies was established in 2013 and since then has utilized this science to design OsteoBoost, a wearable vibration belt. Drawing inspiration from over 15 years of research (including work done for NASA), OsteoBoost utilizes mechanical stimulation in an efficient yet comfortable and convenient manner – harnessing frequency/amplitude dynamics dynamically calibrated to automatically dosed settings to increase bone density in hips and lumbar spine regions most susceptible to osteoporotic fractures – using its core fundamental principle of mechanical stimulation for maximum effectiveness and strengthening bone. Designed to increase bone density while strengthening these vulnerable regions by mechanical stimulation; OsteoBoost uses frequency/amplitude combinations dynamically calibrated dynamically calibrated dynamically calibrated to deliver effective doses – creating optimal conditions for increased bone health!
Exercises
Vibration therapy works by stimulating muscles and joints to move in rhythmic patterns against each other in a cyclic pattern, stimulating end-plate muscle spindles to send signals back to the brain that indicate whether a muscle is stretched or contracted and how much. From there, your mind calculates a correct posture and movement plan. Furthermore, this movement also stimulates bone cells helping strengthen them – known as its osteogenic effect of vibration exercise.
Studies have indicated that vibration exercises can increase bone density among postmenopausal women. Unfortunately, however, results of such studies vary. Some researchers speculate that its positive impact is caused by vibration’s anabolic effect causing mesenchymal progenitor cells to multiply more rapidly and thus form new bones; others attribute its increased bone density to vibration’s ability to strengthen muscles further while decreasing back pain and improving balance.
Other studies have reported that vibration therapy can increase bone density among younger women; however, these results remain highly controversial. Some experts argue that higher frequencies of vibration could stimulate anabolic responses in children while lower frequencies promote catabolic responses – until we know how to differentiate these effects, it would be prudent not to use high-intensity vibration treatments with children.
Many vibration exercises that have been tested in clinical trials involve standing on a vibrating platform with arms and legs extended outstretched to either side. These weight-bearing exercises place increased strain on bones while strengthening them further; similar exercises can be conducted without vibration plates but the benefits might not be as great.
Studies published by Journal of Musculoskeletal Neuronal Interact in 2010 reported that a nine-month program of vibration training and balance exercises significantly increased bone density, muscle mass and stability for osteoporotic postmenopausal women. Although this preliminary research is promising, further investigation must be completed before vibration therapy can be recommended as a viable treatment for osteoporosis. Furthermore, intensity, frequency and duration must also be carefully considered when considering vibration treatments as possible solutions.
