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. 2021 Jun 1;21(2):287-297.

Effects of whole-body vibration on bone properties in aged rats

Akira Minematsu  1 , Yasue Nishii  1 , Susumu Sakata  2
Affiliations

Effects of whole-body vibration on bone properties in aged rats

Akira Minematsu et al. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. .

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore optimal conditions of whole-body vibration (WBV) for improving bone properties in aged rats.

Methods: Eighty-week-old rats were divided into baseline control (BC), age-matched control (CON) and experimental groups, which underwent WBV (0.5 g) at various frequencies (15, 30, 45, 60 or 90 Hz) or WBV (45 Hz) with various magnitudes (0.3, 0.5, 0.7 or 1.0 g) for 7 weeks. After interventions, femur bone size, bone mechanical strength and circulating bone formation/resorption markers were measured, and trabecular bone microstructure (TBMS) and cortical bone geometry (CBG) of femurs were analyzed by micro-CT.

Results: Several TBMS parameters and trabecular bone mineral content were significantly lower in the 15 Hz WBV (0.5 g) group than in the CON group, suggesting damage to trabecular bone. On the other hand, although frequency/magnitude of WBV did not influence any CBG parameters, the 0.7 g and 1.0 g WBV (45 Hz) group showed an increase in tissue mineral density of cortical bone compared with the BC and CON groups, suggesting the possibility of improving cortical bone properties.

Conclusion: Based on these findings, it should be noted that WBV conditions are carefully considered when applied to elderly people.

Keywords: Aged Rats; Bone Mechanical Strength; Cortical Bone Geometry; Trabecular Bone Microstructure; Whole-Body Vibration.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trabecular bone microstructure of femurs in all groups. *Significantly different from the CON group (p<0.05). aSignificantly different from the 60 Hz and 90 Hz WBV groups (p<0.05). Bars indicate SD. BC, baseline control; CON, age-matched control. n=5-7.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Maximum load, break point and absorption energy in femurs of all groups. †Significantly different from the BC group (p<0.05). *Significantly different from the CON group (p<0.05). Bars indicate SD. BC, baseline control; CON, age-matched control. n=5-7.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Serum levels of osteocalcin and TRACP-5b, and osteocalcin/TRACP-5b ratio in all groups. A, serum levels of osteocalcin; B, serum levels of TRACP-5b; C, ratio of osteocalcin to TRACP-5b. Bars indicate SD. TRACP-5b, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b; BC, baseline control; CON, age-matched control. n=5-7.
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