Abstract:
At least one apparatus capable of producing resonant vibrations, such as at least one vibrational therapy apparatus that includes at least one platform member having at least one vibrating plate assembly for providing vibrational energy is disclosed. The platform member is configured for mounting to a patient support structure such as a bed or a surface of a pallet. The vibrational therapy apparatus includes a mounting apparatus configured to receive the at least one vibrating plate assembly for securely positioning and removably mounting the at least one platform member to the patient support structure, such as with respect to a surface of the bed or of the pallet. A mounting apparatus is configured to support at least one apparatus capable of producing resonant vibrations, wherein the mounting apparatus is configured for and adapted for mounting the at least one apparatus capable of producing resonant vibrations to a patient support structure.
Abstract:
A therapeutic device, such as an exercise device, includes the principles of osteogenic repair by incorporating a vibrational loading mechanism into the exercise device. By doing so, the therapeutic device provides an increased osteogenic effect, thereby enhancing the benefits of the therapy. As an example, an exercise device includes a support surface for supporting all or part of the bodily tissue of an individual using the device. A linear or rotary vibrational loading mechanism associated with the frame or a rotational element of the exercise device drives the support surface at a selected load and frequency, thereby inducing mechanical loading of bodily tissue adjacent to the support surface sufficiently to facilitate the growth, development, strengthening, and/or healing of bone tissue. The vibrational loading mechanism may be incorporated into any exercise device, including standard exercise devices such as rowing machines, stair climbing machines, elliptical trainers, bicycles, cross-country ski trainers, treadmills, or weight trainers.
Abstract:
The present disclosure describes a method of determining the onset of osteoporosis by measuring the vibrational response of the musculoskeletal system. Risk of fracture of bones due to osteoporosis is mainly determined by three risk factors: muscle strength, bone mass, and postural stability. Because these three risk factors for fractures are interrelated and dependent on muscle function, they can be determined by quantifying physiologic vibration non-invasively using a low-mass accelerometer placed at an appropriate muscle belly. Muscle vibrations are produced by force fluctuations of unfused motor units during contraction and are expressed by the lateral expansion of muscle fibers. Muscle vibrational characteristics span a broad (0-100 Hz) frequency regime, directly reflecting the force provided by the muscle fibers being utilized and the nature of the dynamic mechanical milieu experienced by the skeleton during postural or locomotory muscle activity. In addition vibrational information below 5 Hz has been shown to correspond to postural instability. Also, a specific frequency component of the muscle vibration spectrum (25-50 Hz) has now been shown to represent the contribution of fast-oxidative fibers which are well correlated to the bone mineral density of humans. Thus, all three of the major risk factors of fracture are measured by a simple measurement of the musculoskeletal vibration spectrum using physiologic vibration quantification.
Abstract:
A system for therapeutic treatment of bone includes a source of energy for stimulating a bone, a feedback loop for receiving response information from the bone generated by the stimulation and an adjustment device for adjusting the energy source according to predetermined criteria. A method of therapeutically treating bone includes the steps of providing a source of energy for stimulating a bone, feedback means for receiving response information from the bone generated by the stimulation and adjustment means for adjusting the energy source according to predetermined criteria, applying energy to cyclically stimulate the bone, collecting response information from the bone due to the stimulation, comparing the response information to the predetermined criteria and adjusting the energy source to obtain a response in accordance with the predetermined criteria. The system and method ensure, augment and accelerate the bone healing process.
Abstract:
A therapeutic device, such as an exercise device, includes the principles of osteogenic repair by incorporating a loading mechanism into the exercise device. By doing so, the therapeutic device provides an increased osteogenic effect, thereby enhancing the benefits of the therapy. As an example, a exercise device includes a support surface for supporting all or part of the bodily tissue of an individual using the device. A linear or rotary loading mechanism associated with the frame or a rotational element of the exercise device drives the support surface at a selected load and frequency, thereby inducing mechanical loading of bodily tissue adjacent to the support surface sufficiently to facilitate the growth, development, strengthening, and/or healing of bone tissue. The loading mechanism may be incorporated into any exercise device, including standard exercise devices such as rowing machines, stair climbing machines, elliptical trainers, bicycles, cross-country ski trainers, treadmills, or weight trainers.
Abstract:
A method is provided for treating postural instability following a determination that a patient is experiencing postural instability. The method includes the steps of (a) providing a vibration table having a non-rigidly supported platform; (b) permitting the patient to rest on the non-rigidly supported platform for a predetermined period of time; and (c) repeating the steps (a) and (b) over a predetermined treatment duration. Step (b) includes the steps of (b1) measuring a vibrational response of the patient's musculoskeletal system using a vibration measurement device; (b2) performing a frequency decomposition of the vibrational response to quantify the vibrational response into specific vibrational spectra; and (b3) analyzing the vibrational spectra to evaluate at least postural stability. Preferably, the predetermined period of time is approximately 10 minutes and the predetermined treatment duration is at least four weeks.
Abstract:
A non-invasive method for evaluating a musculoskeletal system of a patient is provided which includes the steps of: providing a vibration measurement device in proximity to a non-rigidly supported platform; measuring a vibrational response of the patient's musculoskeletal system using the vibration measurement device after the patient rests on the non-rigidly supported platform; performing a frequency decomposition of the vibrational response to quantify the vibrational response into specific vibrational spectra; and analyzing the vibrational spectra to evaluate muscle strength, postural stability and bone density. A non-invasive physiologic vibration quantification system is also provided for evaluating the musculoskeletal system of the patient. The system includes vibration means for externally transferring vibrations to the musculoskeletal system and including a vibration measurement device for measuring a response by the musculoskeletal system in accordance with the vibrations transferred by the vibration means and for forming signals representative of the musculoskeletal system response; and an analyzer coupled to the vibration measurement device for receiving the signals from the vibration measurement device and developing a frequency spectrum associated with the signals. The frequency spectrum provides vibrational quantification of the musculoskeletal system for evaluating at least postural stability.
Abstract:
A system for therapeutic treatment of bone includes a source of energy for stimulating a bone, a feedback loop for receiving response information from the bone generated by the stimulation and an adjustment device for adjusting the energy source according to predetermined criteria. A method of therapeutically treating bone includes the steps of providing a source of energy for stimulating a bone, feedback means for receiving response information from the bone generated by the stimulation and adjustment means for adjusting the energy source according to predetermined criteria, applying energy to cyclically stimulate the bone, collecting response information from the bone due to the stimulation, comparing the response information to the predetermined criteria and adjusting the energy source to obtain a response in accordance with the predetermined criteria. The system and method ensure, augment and accelerate the bone healing process.
Abstract:
A method for preventing osteopenia, promoting bone tissue growth, ingrowth, and healing of bone tissue includes the step of applying a mechanical load to the bone tissue at a relatively low level on the order of between about 50 and about 500 microstrain, peak-to-peak, and at a relatively high frequency in the range of about 10 and about 50 hertz. Mechanical loading at such strain levels and such frequencies has been found to prevent bone loss and enhance new bone formation.