Effects of mechanical stimuli via vibration plate training on bone metabolism in immobilized healthy subjects
- Paper number
IAC-05-A1.4.05
- Author
Dr. Natalie Baecker, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Mrs. Anna-Maria Liphardt, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Mrs. Petra Frings, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Mrs. Andrea Boese, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Martina Heer, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
- Year
2005
- Abstract
Absence of mechanical loading in weightlessness as well as in immobilization leads to substantial losses in bone and muscle mass. Reduction of mechanical stress on bone inhibits osteoblast-mediated bone formation and increases osteoclast-mediated bone resorption, and results in what has been called disuse osteoporosis. Recent research showed a positive effect of vibration training on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women (Verschueren SM et al., JBMR, 2004). There is also a high potential that vibration training may also have positive effects in immobilized subjects. In a current study we investigate whether training on a high-frequency (20Hz) vibrating platform may counteract bone loss during immobilization. 8 male subjects (mean age: 26.38 +/- 4.90 years; mean body weight: 78.11 +/- 9.54 kg) performed a 14 day bed-rest in 6°-head-down-tilt. The study is designed as a cross-over design with two study phases. Subjects stand with bended knees in a defined angle (~20°) for in total five minutes twice a day either on the vibration plate at 20Hz with 2 – 4mm amplitude or on the plate in identical body position without vibration. The protocol is defined as 5 times 1 minute on the vibration plate and 1 minute rest in between in a sitting position. The subjects receive a strictly controlled diet, tailored to their activity level, their age and body mass. To investigate the effects of vibration training on bone metabolism, bone formation markers - Procollagen-I-C-Peptide (PICP) and bone alkaline phosphatase (bAP) as well as serum-calcium concentration will be analyzed in serum. Twenty-four hour-urine will be collected throughout the study for analyses of the excretion of calcium (UCaV) and bone resorption markers - C-Telopeptide (UCTX) and N-Telopeptide (UNTX) The aim is to examine whether mere vibration training of 10 minutes per day without any resistive exercise might be an effective countermeasure for disuse induced bone loss. The study ends at the end of March 2005. Results of the study will be presented at the congress.
- Abstract document