This article will explain how vibration therapy works and will discuss what the research says about its potential benefits and risks in people with osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis Defined
The bones in your body are in a constant state of flux, with new bone forming and old bone breaking down almost continuously. Osteoporosis, and its precursor osteopenia, is a condition in which bone breakdown outpaces new bone formation. When this occurs, your body’s bones become less dense overall and more likely to fracture.
Several different factors can play a role in osteoporosis. Postmenopausal females are at a higher risk of bone deterioration due to the drop in the body’s estrogen levels after menopause. Other risk factors include:
Family history of osteoporosis or rheumatoid arthritis Prior hysterectomy with ovarian removal Men with low testosterone levels Thin or petite body stature Chronic use of corticosteroids or other bone-density-impacting medications Smokers Prior bariatric surgery Celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, or thyroid concerns
What Is Vibration Therapy?
Bones in your body react to stress by forming new bones to reinforce the area where the strain occurs. This happens because of specific bone-forming cells called osteoblasts. As a result of this unique quality, one of the hallmark ways to build bone density in an area is to perform weight-bearing exercises (like walking or stair-stepping) or resistance training near the osteoporotic bone.
Vibration therapy tries to mimic the mechanical stresses associated with exercise and build up bone density in weaker areas.
To do this, a person stands on an oscillating platform while a machine generates vibrations that travel through the body at multiple different frequencies and intensities. The dynamic nature of these vibration signals helps replicate the types of forces that typically trigger osteoblasts to form new bone in an area.
Potential Benefits
The evidence supporting the use of vibration therapy for osteoporosis is still very mixed.
Initial studies of vibration on animals have shown that regular treatment led to increased bone density when compared to a control group. Vibration therapy also proved to slow excess bone loss when an animal was rendered immobile and unable to bear weight through the targeted bone.
The research in humans is more inconclusive, however. One review of the literature found improvements in the bone density of postmenopausal women who participated in regular vibration therapy sessions. Interestingly, these improvements were independent of the increased bone strength that can be attributed to prescription medications, which reinforces the potential complementary use of this intervention.
Unfortunately, other evidence reviews have called these benefits into question. Another summary of the literature found no overall benefit on bone density scores when vibration therapy was performed. The same paper did note, however, that people using the intervention saw increased strength and power in their quadriceps muscles afterward.
Risks and Contraindications
In most cases, vibration therapy is viewed as a low-risk treatment. That said, it is not without potential adverse effects. It is important to work with your healthcare provider to establish guidelines for the intensity of the vibration because settings that are too high may actually cause a weakened bone to fracture.
In addition, there is some evidence that prolonged exposure to vibration can cause harm to different tissues and organs in the body. Chronic vibrations have been linked to a wide variety of issues, including:
Raynaud’s syndrome Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) Blurred vision Headaches Joint pain
It is important to note, however, that most of these studies looked at vibration intensities that far surpass anything that would be used for the typical vibration therapy treatment.
Finally, in several unique situations, vibration therapy is considered to be potentially harmful and is contraindicated. These include:
Pregnancy Recent joint replacement Open or healing wounds Retinal detachment Pacemaker Cochlear implant
Other Osteoporosis Treatments
Considering the low risk level and potential benefits associated with vibration therapy, it may be considered an advantageous treatment for certain individuals with osteoporosis. That said, itis usually viewed as a complement to the more standard osteoporosis interventions that are typically prescribed. These include:
Medications to prevent bone breakdown includingbisphosphonates, denosumab, calcitonin, and SERMs Smoking cessation and use of alcohol in moderation Vitamin D and calcium supplementation Regular resistance training and weight-bearing exercises
Summary
Vibration therapy is one potential complementary intervention for osteoporosis. This treatment creates vibrations that travel through the body and mimic the mechanical stresses that typically trigger bones to get stronger. Though the research on vibration therapy is still mixed, some evidence suggests that it can help improve bone density in postmenopausal women. Because of the relatively low risk involved, it may be a valuable adjunct to more traditional osteoporosis treatments.
