Resistive vibration exercise attenuates bone and muscle atrophy in 56 days of bed rest: biochemical markers of bone metabolism.
Armbrecht, G. 1; Belavy, D. L. 1; Gast, U. 1; Bongrazio, M. 1; Touby, F. 1; Beller, G. 1; Roth, H. J. 2; Perschel, F. H. 3; Rittweger, J. 4; Felsenberg, D. 1
[Article] Osteoporosis International. 21(4):597-607, April 2010.

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Summary: During and after prolonged bed rest, changes in bone metabolic markers occur within 3 days. Resistive vibration exercise during bed rest impedes bone loss and restricts increases in bone resorption markers whilst increasing bone formation.

Introduction: To investigate the effectiveness of a resistive vibration exercise (RVE) countermeasure during prolonged bed rest using serum markers of bone metabolism and whole-body dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as endpoints.

Methods: Twenty healthy male subjects underwent 8 weeks of bed rest with 12 months follow-up. Ten subjects performed RVE. Blood drawings and DXA measures were conducted regularly during and after bed rest.

Results: Bone resorption increased in the CTRL group with a less severe increase in the RVE group (p = 0.0004). Bone formation markers increased in the RVE group but decreased marginally in the CTRL group (p < 0.0001). At the end of bed rest, the CTRL group showed significant loss in leg bone mass (-1.8(0.9)%, p = 0.042) whereas the RVE group did not (-0.7(0.8)%, p = 0.405) although the difference between the groups was not significant (p = 0.12).

Conclusions: The results suggest the countermeasure restricts increases in bone resorption, increased bone formation, and reduced bone loss during bed rest.

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