Vibration Training and Bone Density
How exactly does vibration training affect bone density?
There are 3 ways that vibration training/therapy can affect your bone density, not just one.
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Gravity
The weight you carry around with you on a daily basis places your bones under pressure which is equivalent to 1G ( 1 x gravity ). This pressure is registered in the bone through Osteoblasts, a mononucleate cell that’s sole job is to help you create more bone tissue, but only if needed. The more weight you carry around with you dictates how strong your bones need to be which is why heavier people don’t get osteoporosis.
By creating a hyper-gravity situation, such as a vibration training platform coming quickly up underneath you, your body just for a split second becomes very heavy (on most standard units 6 times your own weight). This sudden g-load excites those osteoblasts and they create a very strong signal, hence more bone is built to accommodate the extra weight your body thinks it is carrying.
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Workout
A muscle contracts which causes pressure on the supporting local bone structure. This effectively “bends” the bone and gets those osteoblasts excited again. This is a very local way of building bone density as only the bone being bent will be affected. However, by going into various workout poses on a training platform, the strong involuntary reflexes caused will effectively replicate a good weight training program. This in turn also creates more muscle mass which creates an even stronger contraction next time. Therefore, an upward spiral of stronger muscle which equals stronger bones which equals stronger muscle is set in motion.
Note: Again here pressure is the key. Think about this, doing a bicep curl without a weight in your hand will not create muscle or bone, so a simple contraction is not good enough.
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Vibration
This is the theory that none of the experts believe yet, so I will tell you about it and then let you decide. A basic engineering principle is that vibration causes a disturbance in all material. Some can absorb this for long periods of time and still function such as rubber. Other material that is more solid and inflexible like steel can be fractured quite easily. It is important to note that vibration alone can affect a change in a materials composition. No engineered materials remain static under the influence of vibration. Even rubber will eventually get hard and crack. Nanotechnology and other engineering advancements will take care of this problem eventually, but it will only be trying to replicate what nature already does.
In the human body, when that same energy which disturbs and separates non organic molecules is used to excite the osteoblasts, they do the only thing they know how to do, create more bone. After all, a cell does not differentiate between energy sources the last time I checked, force is force is force.
20 Comments
I forgot to mention, a new unproven theory from Clinton Rubin of Juvent is that pre-cursor cells to fat may be able to form new muscle instead if given the correct signal from vibration alone.
This theory came about as a result of mice during a trial losing weight and gaining bone mass.
Erik…
http://www.vibra-train.com/bone.html
Is this the kind of thing you are talking about.
According to Murrys bone expert friend , those signals do not exist.
- Erik
June 24th, 2008They do exist, but they not working through activation of the pain sensors.
When human bone is involved with tension, pressure or vibration, those forces generate electrical activity in the bone (and in the surrounding tissues). This piezoelectric activity is a signal to the osteoblasts (building bone) to enhance their activity.
That is why even the weakest (If it is pure vertical movements) vibration from a device can stimulate bone cells, and through the living matrix, reach through the entire torso.
Note: I only used the term “pain sensors” , as it was written for the average consumer . You must be able to refer to things people are familar with if you want them to relate.
I think this is where alot of writers in this industry fall over , they forget who they are talking to , and just repeat research material with terms a layperson does not , and has no interest in understanding.
The consumer want the basics without being made to feel dumb.
I personally dont think the signal is just local , I think at least some of the bio-electrical feedback goes to the brain.
Why do I think that , because osteoblasts cant create bone without the relevent hormones and minerals etc , no cell is a self contained factory.
I dont believe that supply is purely random distribution.
- Di Heap
June 24th, 2008This is, of course, presuming that the nutrients are available; some hormonal ones may be formed by the vibration (exercise/movement) stimulation of the brain and others from fat cells. Other nutrients from diet and Vitamin D mostly from getting a little sunshine. My point being - Vibration Training is an incredible tool but basic adequate diet is also needed for good bone density, (as you’ve pointed out bigger people do okay). I know you don’t say much about diet when talking about Vibration Training Lloyd but with osteoporosis being such a serious condition, is it fair to say.. Vibration Training plus basic adequate nutrition can give vastly improved quality of life to some people, for others it’s a fun way to prevent bone problems occuring and improve overall fitness as well.
- Erik
June 24th, 2008The osteoblasts can do a lot of things for themselves if they got material to build with. So, good nutrition is, like you said Di, extremely important.
About the WBV generated signal: Of course it is not only local. All structure in the human body is connected with the living matrix so the brain will surely know what is going on. And it will respond.
Remember this: The human body is not only parts that are put together; it is an intelligent, communicating holistic organism built of energy, energy that oscillate in every living molecule and cell.
And, never underestimate people. They can think for themselves. If they don´t understand, they will ask.
- Tim
June 25th, 2008And of course, no man is an island either, so that living matrix is everywhere.
- Di Heap
June 25th, 2008Okay, the human body has intelligent design but this discussion is getting a bit deep and spiritual? Can we now promote Vibration Training as the “holy grail” or “elixir of youth”?
There is definitely some truth in this but more importantly Vibration Training helps us with living well (fitness, bone strength, physio/pain reduction, weightloss etc)Erik, Sorry but I don’t agree that, generally, people think well for themsleves. If they did humans would be much healthier - eat correctly and exercise adequately and rest regularly - without having to be told.
Yes , the sad fact is most people know more about their car or Brad Pitts love life than how their own bodies work.
Erik and Tim…
A good example of how easily you can lose peoples attention or not be taken seriously.
Use the word matrix.
- Erik
June 25th, 2008People need facts, and it is up to us to present it so they understand. You can´t tell them that an activity from the “pain sensors” in the bones is helping them produce stronger bones, because it is simply not the trouth.
I would really loose peoples attention if i did that. That is the way it works. - Tim
June 25th, 2008Lloyd, both you and Di Heap made a comment on it, so it was certainly noticed.
- Di Heap
June 25th, 2008Erik, You said people can think for themselves and will ask. Really that isn’t what happens in the areas of health and fitness. Most just get on with their busy lives and hope all will be well, never stopping to consider the end result of the food they eat, the lack of exercise, high stress etc of their daily lives or when they do take time time to think it becomes too daunting, so yes we need to present the facts they need holistically
but this forum is about Vibration Training and the physical effects it produces so we don’t go into spiritual dimensions/matrix and we rarely mention diet (even though it’s important) or other types exercise. Sticking to the narrow theme keeps focus so we don’t wander off into other discussion as on a general message board. - But, jokes and inuendo are allowed
- Erik
June 25th, 2008Di,
Yes, people can put two and two together but they don´t always follow up the consequences. You´re right about that.
Therefore I think WBV training is a great tool in my toolbox as a practitioner in manual medicine. On a quite simple machine and with a very small amount of effort my clients can get full benefits out of this method.
You´re all seems to do a great job and Lloyd safety programs and engagement in the manufacturers and distributors responsibility is a good start. But, there is a lot more to learn.
We still don´t have full knowledge of the mechanism behind the effects and a blog like this is therefore a great community to discuss it. But we have to be open minded and show some humility when we investigating this instrument and it´s benefits.
- Ted G
June 30th, 2008I have a question regarding amplitude. I’m seeing wide variation in some of these products in regards to amplitude with one going as high as 14 mm, and I was wondering if there was an advantage to higher amplitude vs. the standard which seems to be around 5 mm.
Ted G…
You do understand Pivotal and Lineal are not comparable. Thats if you are refering to the 14mm being off a Pivotal machine.
In theory the greater distance traveled should give better results , but in fact other factors seem to play a much larger part .
I started my company Medvibe with the intent of proving that WBV had applications as a durable Medical device that could be used to fight osteoporosis. I was hoping that I could supply a device to some of the 40 Million Americans over 50 year old affected by Osteopenia and Osteoporosis.
As most of you know WBV has been widely accepted by other countries much faster than it has in the United States. Unfortunately in the U.S. we dont have socialized healthcare. Those with bone density illnesses usually get put on drugs like Actonel, Boniva, and Fosamax wich inhibit cells that break down bone and slowing bone loss. In other words these drugs have serious side effects and dont build new bone rather prevent you from losing any more. To me this sounds like slow death not a solution.
Most people over 50 years of age are not typically the most active and athletic demographic in our communities. Women especially at this age are susceptible to done density issues. They usually have developed joint problems, become overweight and fail to perfomr a regular excercise routine. So why cant we prescribe 10-20 min bouts on a vibration trainer? Why haven’t all the grants put out by the national Insitute of Health funded more studies on WBV and Muscular-skelatal diseases?
In the states Insurance companies are trying to push preventative healthcare such as excercise. They hope to save your health, keep you paying premiums ( just in case) which inturn just lines thier pockets by recieving fewer claims. I would think it would cost insurance companies much less to provide patients with ostepenia a home WBV unit than to pay for expensive pharmaceuticals and costly physician examinations? Additionally those pharm drugs have caused a list of other health problems such as ulcers, and digestive malfunction.
I searched around for studies and found the Berlin bed rest study. It is the closest thing I can find to a half decent funded study?
Where are the rest?
Unfortunately Jon it wont matter how many studies are released , if the Doctors are not getting kickbacks they wont prescribe Vibration Therapy.
Eg…They get ” seminars ” in Hawaii ( paid holidays ) from drug companies to shift their product. What have we got to offer ?
Note: The insurance companies always follow the medical industries advice so even though it would seem a logical conclusion the changes wont come from there either.
But change is coming , I cant tell you how but its from the most unexpected party.
Hello Jon,
I would like to believe you have the passion in promoting vibration training for its positive effect in fitness and healthcare as I do.
However, your machines look like Chinese OEM products. Can you clarify it?
TC
June 24th, 2008
Lets take a look from another point of view. Maybe this is how it works.
From the top of the head to the tip of the toes, reaching into every nook and cranny of the body and extending into every cell we find a single compartment - the living matrix.
The extracellular, connective tissue component of the living matrix has piezoelectrical properties so that every movement, tension, pressure and vibration within the connective tissue generates a variety of bio-communication signals. Among other things these signals stimulates the bone cells to grow new bone.
So, standing on a WBV device “force” the whole organism to extended bio-communication. And, we really need this communication to work properly and avoid diseases.