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Mechanical Means to Improve Bone Strength: Ultrasound and Vibration

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Abstract

Not all fractures heal well. One method that has been used to improve fracture healing is low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS). LIPUS has been US Food and Drug Administration approved for several years, and some preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that fracture healing can be improved by this technique, which appears to be generally safe. There are several suggested mechanisms of action of LIPUS. Clinical studies generally support its usefulness in accelerating fracture healing. A less-established modality is whole body vibration (WBV), which appears to stimulate bone and muscle growth while suppressing adipogenesis in animal studies. Early studies in humans, including some in children with disabilities, suggest that WBV holds promise as a technique for reducing fracture risk. The exact place of WBV in preventing fracture remains to be established.

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Acknowledgments

The viewpoints expressed in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, VA Central California Health Care System, Fresno, CA, USA

    Gopi Kasturi

  2. Endocrinology and Metabolism (111P), McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard, Richmond, VA, 23249, USA

    Robert A. Adler

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  1. Gopi Kasturi
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  2. Robert A. Adler
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Correspondence to Gopi Kasturi.

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Kasturi, G., Adler, R.A. Mechanical Means to Improve Bone Strength: Ultrasound and Vibration. Curr Rheumatol Rep 13, 251–256 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-011-0177-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-011-0177-7

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