The effect of mechanical vibration on bone mineral density in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis

doi:10.3969/.issn.1674-3245.2017.04.004

Abstract：Objective To investigate the effect of mechanical vibration on bone mineral density in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Methods A clinical research study was conducted on 60 randomly selected patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis (aged 49-70 years) who were treated between February 2014 and October 2015 in the rehabilitation and physiotherapy department of orthopaedic hospital and osteoporosis clinic. The patients were randomly divided into the whole body vibration group (WBV) and the alendronate group (ALN) (both given base treatment at the same time). Bone mineral density was analysed after a 6-month treatment. Results In the WBV group, after 6 months of treatment, indexes such as L1 ~ L4, left femoral neck, left upper femur, Ward's triangle, and the left femoral large tuberosity BMD increased significantly. Remarkable statistical differences were evident in the comparison of the differences before and after treatment:the highest change rate could be seen in the Ward's triangle BMD (8.37%). The indexes listed above in the ALN group increased significantly compared with before treatment , also showing significant statistical differences. L1 ~ L4 BMD had the greatest change rate (3.17%). Although the Ward's triangle BMD increased, little statistical value could be observed before and after treatment. The change rates of the left femur (neck, upper, big tuberosity) and Ward's triangle in the WBV group were higher than the ALN group after 6-month treatment, but the reverse was true for the change rate of the lumbar BMD. The difference in BMD in the two groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion Alendronate can obviously increase lumber vertebra density and mechanical vibration can increase femur and hip bone mineral density significantly. Ward's triangle can be used as a mechanical vibration treatment indication and as an outcome indicator. Mechanical vibration is especially suitable for postmenopausal osteoporosis treatment.