The Influence of Vibration on Bone Mineral Density in Women Who Have Weak Bones After Menopause

About This Study

This study will examine whether whole-body vibration slows down bone loss in healthy postmenopausal women with osteopenia. Whole-body vibration is a promising novel therapy that involves standing on a platform which produces extremely small and fast up-and-down movements. Some but not all research studies have found that whole-body vibration slowed down bone loss in postmenopausal women. One of the reasons why different studies found different results may be because they used various speeds of vibration. This study looks at how different speeds of whole-body vibration influence bone mineral density differently in postmenopausal women who have osteopenia. Two hundred postmenopausal women will take part in this 12-month study. Women will be randomly assigned into three groups (67 women per group) and these groups will be compared. Group 1 will receive very fast whole-body vibration, Group 2 will receive fast whole-body vibration, and Group 3 will not receive whole-body vibration. We will look at various bone mineral density and bone quality measurements, obtained with three different types of technologies, at the beginning of the study and at 12 months of follow-up. The hypothesis of this study is that the in comparison to Group 3 (no vibration), Groups 1 and 2 will experience reduced bone loss over 12 months, and that the greatest reduction in bone loss will be experienced by Group 1. The results of this study will help us determine whether whole-body vibration at different speeds produces variable effects on bone, hence explaining the inconsistency of the results obtained in previous studies.

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• •Juvent 1000 Dynamic Motion Therapy (DMT) Platform
• •Juvent 1000 Dynamic Motion Therapy (DMT) Platform

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

* osteopenic
* postmenopausal

Exclusion Criteria:

* use of HRT in the past 12 months
* use of raloxifene or parathyroid hormone in the past 6 months
* use of bisphosphonates or fluoride in the past 3 months or ever taken for more than 3 months
* current use of calcitonin
* use of other medications that may indirectly affect bone metabolism
* presence of metabolic bone disease or diseases that indirectly affect bone metabolism
* occurrence of fragility fracture over 40 years of age
* presence of unhealed non-fragility fracture (i.e., occurring less then 6 months ago)
* having body mass ≤28 kg and ≥90 kg
* having knee or hip joint replacements and spine implants
* having poor balance (assessed by Timed-Up-and-Go)
* presence of other medical risks for the study
* inability to stand erect daily for 20 minutes
* planned vacation or other activities that would prevent one from using the platform for ≥1 month

Study Locations (1)