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Whole-body vibration not an effective therapy for the prevention of bone loss
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Whole-body vibration has no preventative effect against bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
“Although researchers are seeking alternatives to time-consuming exercise to improve bone density, the results of this study suggest this specific therapy is not effective in improving bone density,” researcher Angela M. Cheung, MD, FRCPC, PhD, stated in a news release. “Women would be farther ahead in making sure that they are exercising regularly and eating nutritious foods.”
The researchers performed a 12-month, single-center randomized controlled trial with three parallel groups. The cohort was 202 healthy postmenopausal women older than 60 years who were not taking prescription bone medications. The women were randomized into three groups — with one group using daily 20-minute bouts of low-magnitude, 30 Hz whole-body vibration, one group using daily 20-minute bouts of 90 Hz whole-body vibration and one group not using whole-body vibration at all.
Every woman in the cohort was given calcium and vitamin D supplements at baseline and 6 months so their daily intakes approximated 1,200 mg and 1,000 IU, respectively. At baseline and 12 months, the researchers measured bone structure and bone density at the hip, lumbar spine, forearm and lower leg.
According to the study results, 12 months of low-magnitude whole-body vibration at 90 Hz and 30 Hz both resulted in no significant changes in either bone density or bone structure when compared to results found in the control group.
Reference:
- Slatkoyska L, Alibhai SMH, Beyene J, et al. Effect of 12 months of whole-body vibration therapy on bone density and structure in postmenopausal women. Ann Intern Med. 2011; 155(10);668-679.
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