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Does anyone know about using a vibration exercise machine for treating osteoporosis?
Does anyone know about using a vibration exercise machine for treating osteoporosis?
Hi, please place the word "vibration" in Search. You will have all the past discussions on vibration machines until you receive a reply to your post. Sandi
I've not heard of it but I do know that a discussion I had w/my Dr. We got on the subject of ultrasounds and he said ultrasounds aimed at osteoporotic bones may cause breakage. Like the kind used to break up kidney stones.
I looked up past discussions here and found some about Juvent 1000. However, I suspect the Solflex WBV may be essentially identical....and lots less expensive. My lumbar spine and to some extent my hip (only one now, the other is arificial) are osteoporotic, but the rest of my spine is fine.
In the research about Juvent 1000 it appears that different parts of bone respond differently to vibration.
At first my husband couldn't believe vibration could make a difference, but he's coming around.
There are major differences between the Soloflex and the Juvent. The Soloflex has side-to-side vibrations; the Juvent has up-and-down vibrations. The Soloflex produces the same underlying vibration for everyone (though you can adjust it manually); the Juvent calibrates the strength of the underlying vibration you need, depending on your body weight (because the body weight will affect the percentage of underlying vibration reaching the body).
No, the Soloflex whole body vibration unit (cost $395-$495) isn't Powerplate .
Does any body know about Power Plate?
It appears to be a more expensive version of machines such as Vibraslim. I tried one very briefly one day at a store that sells exercise equipment.
Please, people:
Be very circumspect about these machines. The research is not there for all but the Juvent 2000 or 3000 (cannot recall which). With a hint of positive effects from vibration, lots of the promoters of "just as good as" leap into the market to take your money. Sara Meeks, PT, knows more than I do about this concept, and she is very busy this fall with her teaching circuit. Hope she can jump in. Perhaps this info is in another discussion site.
Let's look!
In the meantime, wait for more research-based evidence of value.
Lucy Buckley PT aka Mother Goose
Whole Body Vibration (WBV) is the latest fitness craze and now no gym is complete without one. Unfortunately, there are a lot of claims made for it and there is also reason to be very careful before deciding to step on one.
The problem is with what is called the G force which is the amount of force induced into the body with the unit. The only one I know that is safe, according to the research of Dr. Clinton Rubin, and also according to what little I know of G force itself, is the Juvent. I don't know if they have more than one model now but the one I'm familiar with looks like a large bathroom scale and costs around $2500.00.
Research on vibration in the past has centered around the forces induced in industry--jackhammers, truck seats etc. If the G force is too high, damage can be caused in soft tissue, the vestibular system, and the eyes. Not something to fool around with.
I haven't really had the time to study it thoroughly so I would advise anyone with osteoporosis to ask a lot of questions and find out as much as possible before investing in one or using it in the gym.
WBV is definitely not the great thing it is advertised to be. Err on the side of caution is a good idea here.
P.S.
Go to www.bme.sunysb.edu/bme/people/faculty/c_rubin.html
and find out about Dr. Clinton Rubin and his research.
I not only looked at Rubin's site, but looked at his PubMed citations. There appears to have been study in Europe involving humans of whole body vibration being beneficial for osteoporosis.
Nancy:
A doctor at UCLA said a loud "NO" to the Power Plate. She gave no explanation.
Gloucester
I just bought the Soloflex for $395.....my osteoporosis isn't bad. With growth hormone I'm almost in the normal range for lumbar spine.
Sport:
You are taking growth hormone. Please tell me all about it. How much, how often who, is the doctor, where is the doctor ,any positive DEXA results from taking it - what was it before and what is it now. Is it the only drug you are taking? Gloucester
I am adult onset growth hormone deficient...it probably started in1992, but wasn't officially diagnosed till several mopnths ago.....most endos can barely dx thyroid, much less GH deficiency. GH makes a TREMENDOUS difference in bone density. I'm tempted to post my test results over the years, but only have them as a saved file in My Documents. If someone can help me post them, I'd be glad to explain what went on, starting in 1987 or 8 when I found I had atrophic autoimmune thyroiditis.
SPORT:
What is the test or tests used to determine if one is GH deficient? Are there any symptoms? As you say most doctors can't get the thyroid right. How did you find a doctor who knew what he was doing? I'm not computer literate enough to tell you how to get items posted. But you could still give us a short recap of what happened. You're doctor's not in California by chance? Gloucester
Hi Sport,
I have the exact same questions as Gloucester has, and hope
that it wouldn't be too much trouble for you to give us a summary of your experience with this GH.
Thanks, Gloucester and thanks, Sport. Idie
There are several possible GH stim tests, none totally reliable. (according to the literature) I found a pediatric endo, Norm Lavin, Tarzana, California to test me...and...sure enough...NADA...probably that way since 1992/3, but only dx'ed a couple of months ago. GH for adults is given in much lower doses than for children....maybe I'll put some of my labs over the years up on this site...."my life is an open book"...so much for HIPPA.
SPORT:
I don't believe your doctor is in Tarzana. Do you live in LA. If so where. I live on the other side of the hill near the County Art Museum which is on Wilshire Blvd. The area has a few names Fairfax, Beverly Grove. We should get together for coffee (decaf of course). When? Where? Do you want to check out the "Grove." If so we could meet there. Farmers' Market is adjacent and there are plenty of places to eat that have reasonable prices.
I'll try to get an appointment with this doctor. It can't hurt to find out if I have enough Growth Hormone. Did he mention that people with osteo come to him to get checked?
Thanks so much for telling us about this whole idea. It would never had crossed my mind. Gloucester
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