Low‐Intensity Vibration Protects the Weight‐Bearing Skeleton and Suppresses Fracture Incidence in Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Prospective, Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

The ability of low-intensity vibration (LIV) to combat skeletal decline in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. Twenty DMD boys were enrolled, all ambulant and treated with glucocorticoids (mean age 7.6, heightadjusted Z-scores [HAZ] of hip bone mineral density [BMD] À2.3). Ten DMD boys were assigned to stand for 10 min/d on an active LIV platform (0.4 g at 30 Hz), while 10 stood on a placebo device. Baseline and 14-month bone mineral content (BMC) and BMD of spine, hip, and total body were measured with DXA, and trabecular bone density (TBD) of tibia with quantitative computed tomography (QCT). All children tolerated the LIV intervention well, with daily compliance averaging 78%. At 14 months, TBD in the proximal and distal tibia remained unchanged in placebo subjects (À1.0% and À0.2%), while rising 3.5% and 4.6% in LIV subjects. HAZ for hip BMD and BMC in the placebo group declined 22% and 13%, respectively, contrasting with no change from baseline (0.9% and 1.4%) in the LIV group. Fat mass in the leg increased 32% in the placebo group, contrasting with 21% in LIV subjects. Across the 14-month study, there were four incident fractures in three placebo patients (30%), with no new fractures identified in LIV subjects. Despite these encouraging results, a major limitation of the study is-despite randomized enrollment-that there was a significant difference in age between the two cohorts, with the LIV group being 2.8y older, and thus at greater severity of disease. In sum, these data suggest that noninvasive LIV can help protect the skeleton of DMD children against the disease progression, the consequences of diminished load bearing, and the complications of chronic steroid use.

Vibration Therapy for Cancer-Related Bone Diseases

“…Notably, WBV has been shown to be effective in improving bone mineral density (BMD) and reducing fracture risks in patients [46][47][48]. Even for bedridden patients, vibration therapy can potentially preserve bone integrity with or without the condition of weight bearing [49,50].…”

Enhancing anti-tumor potential: low-intensity vibration suppresses osteosarcoma progression and augments MSCs' tumor-suppressive abilities

“…Studies have indicated that subjecting MSCs to LIV prompts a shift in their developmental trajectory, favoring osteoblasts over adipogenic cells [10]. A growing body of evidence demonstrates the potential of LIV to enhance bone mineral density and mitigate the risk of bone fractures [11][12][13]. Furthermore, LIV's influence extends to cancer cells, altering their biophysical traits.…”