New Study Shows How Vibrations Can Help Heal Bones

The idea that vibrations can help bones heal is not new. It has been around for over three years. However, now, a new study in Science has expanded our understanding of this process by mapping out how vibrations can help bones to heal. 

“Only if we understand these mechanisms can we use them as the basis for developing new therapies,” said Dr. Neashan Mathavan, a lecturer at the Department of Health Sciences and Technologyresearcher and lead author of the study said in an ETH Zurich press release. 

New Research
The idea that when fractured bones are exposed to targeted mechanical loading (that is to say, vibrations) they become denser, larger and more stable, was first demonstrated in mice three years ago by Ralph Müller, a Professor at the Department of Health Sciences and Technology at ETH Zurich, and his team, according to the press release.

Now, Mathavan and his research team are taking that research a step further, in the hope that understanding the way in which vibrations help fractured bones heal can lead the way to new therapies, not only for existing fractures, but to prevent them, especially for the elderly. 

“Ideally, we need new therapeutic approaches to delaying the breakdown of bone in old age,” Mathavan said. He isn’t just speaking about the healing of bone fractures but also about prevention too.

Gene Mapping
According to Swissinfo.ch, in order to figure out the mechanism through which bones heal, the team studied four mice with broken femurs as they underwent vibration therapy. They then mapped out which genes were active during healing and which weren’t at any given point on the bone. 

Some of the genes, acording to the press release, that activated under mechanical stress included those that are responsible for the formation of the collagenous matrix that form bones and some promote mineralization. On the other hand, genes that inhibit bone growth were dormant in the locations where the bone was under mechanical stress. 

The hope is that this study could lead to more targeted drug treatment, activating or inhibiting various genes as needed. Or, more likely, a combination of vibration therapy and drug therapy could be used. 

Either way, this study is certainly a leap forward for the world of bone injuries and geriatrics, as the elderly are the most prone to bone fractures. Understanding the how of something is the first step in being able to use that information to further human welfare and well-being.