Whole Body Vibration for Osteoporosis

@retired123, I moved your post to this existing discussion about vibration therapy that @jmanj started:
- Whole Body Vibration for Osteoporosis: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/whole-body-vibration-for-osteoporosis/

I think you'll particularly appreciate this post by @tsc in the discussion https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/729625/

What is knowledge about vibration therapy and osteoporosis? Was it suggested by your physician?

Hi @retired123 ~ I hope someone can share an inexpensive low intensity, high frequency vibration plate. I haven't done much research but did see an article that might be what you read.

"Animal and human studies suggest that high-frequency, low-magnitude vibration therapy improves bone strength by increasing bone formation and decreasing bone resorption. There is also evidence that vibration therapy is useful in treating sarcopenia, which confounds skeletal fragility and fall risk in aging."
-- Vibration therapy: clinical applications in bone - PMC - NCBI:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458848/

No, my doctor wanted to use drugs for treatment. I didn't like what I was reading about any of them. I started reading what I could find about bone health and in one book it brought up vibration therapy. I liked what I was reading and Nasa's involvement in it so I'm considering it. I would like to hear from anyone that has tried it. A home platform would be best but I 'm not sure there is one that meets the specs that is affordable. I don't see a clinical trial for it either.

HI @retired123, the Marodyne LIV is the low intensity vibration machine developed in conjunction with NASA. Two physical therapists who specialize in osteoporosis, Sara Meeks and Margaret Martin endorse it, with full disclosures. I've contacted the company twice and never received a reply. The last time I looked, it sells for about $4500.00. I'm going to stick with Dr. Loren Fishman's 12 Poses vs Osteoporosis (you can google) which has, in a study, improved bone density in participants who did the yoga. Wishing you the best.

Hello ALL~
I see that we are all interested in re-gaining the bone loss we have, as well as not doing more harm to our already fragile bone structures. I managed to really help out my bone density, showing much improvement in a year. I've been faithfully doing BoneGrow/strontium and then Bone-up (6 caps a day) with added Strontium at a seperate time.. along with the vibration plate I bought from LifePro. I got the "Waver" model as it fit my budget. I contacted the company and they had a 'trainer' call me back and explain that I should use the "Waver" in the manual 1 position and in a sitting posture with my hands on my knees. That this would be a low intensity setting...and not to be standing on it, for now. As I'm still healing from the two added compression frxs...T-9,10.
I am using it this way and enjoying the 'feeling' I get from it. There are other modalities out there for this type of 'movement'..like a "Chi' machine...but that just feels good without any clinical proof of bone growth. Since I raised my DEXA score in my hips by 9.6% and lumbar by 5.4%..in one year...I'm happy with that and my physician is no longer pushing me to take the 'script' meds for my osteoporosis. She is also very much in favor of Strontium. I am also re-gaining my balance with different simple exercises and seeing a benefit really fast..as we all have muscle memory for balance..we just kinda forgot that we were once young and had great balance. We can't be as active as we once were..but keeping up our balance is essential to avoid falling. Where I was getting stuck and almost falling..I'm now not feeling that weakness and feel better about walking with my 'sticks'. I had my parathyroid checked..no problem there. I'm also going to try a CBD liquid..for back pain and to help with sleep. I tried the 'flower' and that worked really well...but don't like the 'smoke' part of that. One doesn't have to be living in a State where cannabis is legal to get the CBD liquid. I bought the product from MONTKUSH....and I'll report more after I try it out for a while. Blessing to you all...keep moving...stress less....be kind to others and yourselves....

Good to hear that you're feeling and sounding better, Bunky. Balance is definitely critical as I remind myself after nearly tripping over yet another cat toy in a dark hallway. [I have to remember to hide them at night...]

I've restarted treadmill sessions. I have a small DVD player and find that watching either the history of Motown's Funk Brothers or Craft in America DVDs make it slightly more bearable. On a masochistic day, I set a steep incline and slow speed and groan later.

Hello All~
Hope today is a better one for you all...
Staying positive and grateful does not come automatically for most of us. Life itself seems at times to be so very harsh and cruel. And these are supposed to be our 'golden years'! So...I propose that we throw out our negative thoughts as soon as they arrive and replace them with positive thoughts, or memories. Even in our darkest of times..that these posts can attest too...there is hope in the sharing of our trials and tribulations with others that magically benefits those of us that read and respond to them...it's such good group therapy! I've had to look up many of the illnesses and replacement devices just to try and understand where that soul is coming from and what they are dealing with...it brings out our empathy gene to the fore....so good for us!
Life is a learning process...not something to 'get over'....
I find that you all are 'seekers' and willing to be vulnerable...just looking for answers that our medical field lacks or is too consumed with 'other' that we just don't count when demanding that we be treated as the individuals we represent. Our inquires count...our feelings count....we count. So let's keep it up! Knowledge is king.
Now I have to take my own advice and go for a walk!
Enjoy your day!!

I'm with you Bunky! Every day I try to do the best I can. Today is my "quiet day" because I will be very busy the rest of the week with going, going, going.
So no walk for me today, except at the grocery store. Instead I treated my feet to a pedicure & massage. Now I get to spend the afternoon in my "cave" (sewing room/art studio) - it always brings a smile to my face.

What do you do that brings joy?

That's the Spirit! Self-care!..what a novel idea! Like most of us, I feel...we're looking for answers and have more questions then can be answered. So very frustrating..taking so much precious time one can be spending on more ameliorative activities...like what you had planned. I'm starting to shape out a new life for myself these days. Finding new ways to live..now being alone. Can't quite see a future yet..but staying in the now and being grateful for what I do have really helps me to stay on track, that there's more to come for me. Sure..we can all dwell on all that's wrong with us...but that's damn depressing..besides taking up way too much energy to keep track of it all. So I surrender...my demons will have to learn to get along with my angels...after all we all have more angels than demons.
Today I will rejoice in all the beauty that surrounds me..even if I have to look for it. Pick my head up and stand up straighter and go make my own fun day! I wish the same for you all!

I have no personal experience, but I remember reading many years ago that NASA was studying this to keep bone health up for astronauts that are going to spend a long time in space. They were, at the time, testing it on sheep as I recall.