When a bone breaks, the body begins an incredible biological process to heal it. But as anyone who has fractured a bone will know, healing takes time, with the average fracture taking several months to restore itself. But, what if we could speed up that process?
When a bone breaks, the body begins an incredible biological process to heal it. But as anyone who has fractured a bone will know, healing takes time, with the average fracture taking several months to restore itself. But, what if we could speed up that process?
The healing of bone following a fracture is a complex process, involving several key overlapping stages: inflammation, repair and remodelling.
The inflammatory phase begins immediately after a fracture occurs. When a bone breaks, a blood clot (hematoma) rapidly forms at the fracture site, creating the first bridge between the fragments of the broken bone.
The hematoma helps to bring in immune cells and signals the initiation of the healing process. Swelling and pain are most intense at this stage.
The inflammatory phase is crucial for stabilising the fracture and preparing it for repair, with this stage typically lasting a few days.
The healing of bone following a fracture is a complex process, involving several key overlapping stages: inflammation, repair and remodelling.
The inflammatory phase begins immediately after a fracture occurs. When a bone breaks, a blood clot (hematoma) rapidly forms at the fracture site, creating the first bridge between the fragments of the broken bone.
The hematoma helps to bring in immune cells and signals the initiation of the healing process. Swelling and pain are most intense at this stage.
The inflammatory phase is crucial for stabilising the fracture and preparing it for repair, with this stage typically lasting a few days.
The repair phase involves the formation of a soft callus, which is a bridge of cartilage and woven bone that connects fractured bone fragments. Woven bone is made up of a disorganised, random arrangement of collagen fibers, making it mechanically weak compared to mature bone.
During soft callus formation, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are a type of stem cell with the ability to differentiate into various cell types, rapidly transform into chondroblasts (which form cartilage) and osteoblasts (which form bone).
Osteoblasts invade the soft callus and deposit new bone tissue in a process called mineralisation, causing the soft callus to gradually become a hard callus.
This stage lasts about 4-8 weeks, with X-rays able to show signs of healing at this point.
The final phase involves the gradual replacement of woven bone with stronger lamellar bone. Lamellar bone is the mature, highly organised type of bone tissue found throughout the adult skeleton, characterised by its neat layered structure of collagen fibers.
Osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone), remove excess bone tissue, while osteoblasts reshape the callus into new bone tissue in a process called remodelling, restoring strength and alignment.
This phase can take several months or even years to complete, as the bone gradually returns to its pre-fracture form.
The repair phase involves the formation of a soft callus, which is a bridge of cartilage and woven bone that connects fractured bone fragments. Woven bone is made up of a disorganised, random arrangement of collagen fibers, making it mechanically weak compared to mature bone.
During soft callus formation, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are a type of stem cell with the ability to differentiate into various cell types, rapidly transform into chondroblasts (which form cartilage) and osteoblasts (which form bone).
Osteoblasts invade the soft callus and deposit new bone tissue in a process called mineralisation, causing the soft callus to gradually become a hard callus.
This stage lasts about 4-8 weeks, with X-rays able to show signs of healing at this point.
The final phase involves the gradual replacement of woven bone with stronger lamellar bone. Lamellar bone is the mature, highly organised type of bone tissue found throughout the adult skeleton, characterised by its neat layered structure of collagen fibers.
Osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone), remove excess bone tissue, while osteoblasts reshape the callus into new bone tissue in a process called remodelling, restoring strength and alignment.
This phase can take several months or even years to complete, as the bone gradually returns to its pre-fracture form.
Low-intensity Vibration (LiV) therapy involves standing on a platform that emits a gentle mechanical vibration (usually 0.4g at 30Hz). These subtle vibrations travel upwards through the body and have been proven to stimulate bone and muscle cells to promote regeneration and growth1.
The idea is grounded in how bones naturally respond to mechanical loading – like from walking or exercise. These loads stimulate bone-forming cells to help maintain bone density. LiV therapy mimics these effects in a low-risk, passive way.
Bones will remodel over time to become stronger if they are subjected to increased loading, and weaker if no forces to resist. In the context of bone healing, this means that a small, controlled amount of mechanical load from LiV therapy can stimulate accelerated healing without causing damage. The LiV signal applies just enough mechanical load to encourage mending without harmful deformation, which may come if you tried to exercise on a fractured leg, for instance.
Low-intensity Vibration (LiV) therapy involves standing on a platform that emits a gentle mechanical vibration (usually 0.4g at 30Hz). These subtle vibrations travel upwards through the body and have been proven to stimulate bone and muscle cells to promote regeneration and growth1.
The idea is grounded in how bones naturally respond to mechanical loading – like from walking or exercise. These loads stimulate bone-forming cells to help maintain bone density. LiV therapy mimics these effects in a low-risk, passive way.
Bones will remodel over time to become stronger if they are subjected to increased loading, and weaker if no forces to resist. In the context of bone healing, this means that a small, controlled amount of mechanical load from LiV therapy can stimulate accelerated healing without causing damage. The LiV signal applies just enough mechanical load to encourage mending without harmful deformation, which may come if you tried to exercise on a fractured leg, for instance.
A review paper published in 2020 found that in over 50 articles, LiV therapy was shown to enhance bone healing2. It found that LiV therapy:
One particular study from 2009 found that LiV therapy caused a significant increase in callus size in a femoral shaft fracture within two weeks, and the remodelling of the callus into mature bone was significantly faster. The mechanical strength of the healed fracture at just four weeks was also significantly greater3. A 2014 study looked further into this, finding that LiV therapy can enhance gene expression related to callus formation and bone remodelling to speed up both processes4.
A review paper published in 2020 found that in over 50 articles, LiV therapy was shown to enhance bone healing2. It found that LiV therapy:
One particular study from 2009 found that LiV therapy caused a significant increase in callus size in a femoral shaft fracture within two weeks, and the remodelling of the callus into mature bone was significantly faster. The mechanical strength of the healed fracture at just four weeks was also significantly greater3. A 2014 study looked further into this, finding that LiV therapy can enhance gene expression related to callus formation and bone remodelling to speed up both processes4.
Of course, many factors influence fracture healing time, including your age, location of the fracture, other health conditions and lifestyle factors. Even so, LiV therapy is emerging as a promising adjunctive therapy for bone repair and strengthening.
LiV therapy combined with proper nutritional support, avoiding smoking and excess alcohol, and following medical advice for rehabilitation could prove to be a powerful tool for improved outcomes following a fracture.
Find out more about Low-intensity Vibration therapy and its therapeutic uses by heading to our research page via the button below.
Of course, many factors influence fracture healing time, including your age, location of the fracture, other health conditions and lifestyle factors. Even so, LiV therapy is emerging as a promising adjunctive therapy for bone repair and strengthening.
LiV therapy combined with proper nutritional support, avoiding smoking and excess alcohol, and following medical advice for rehabilitation could prove to be a powerful tool for improved outcomes following a fracture.
Find out more about Low-intensity Vibration therapy and its therapeutic uses by heading to our research page via the button below.
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