A machine that reverses osteoporosis?

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens the bones by shrinking their mass and causing the bone tissue to deteriorate, making them extremely fragile. Although everyday movements like picking up a shopping bag can cause weakened bones to fracture, falling is a much more common cause of fractures.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) reports that more than 28 million Americans are affected by osteoporosis, more than 80% of whom are women, usually over the age of 65. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), osteoporosis is often called the "silent crippler" because the affected person is unaware of the disease until it is too late.

Focus on prevention

There is currently no cure for osteoporosis, so most medical advice focuses on prevention. The NOF cautions that although no single one of the following steps is enough to prevent osteoporosis, all four in tandem may.

• A balanced diet rich in calcium and Vitamin D
• Weight-bearing exercise
• A healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol use
• Bone density testing and medications when appropriate

Medications may help

There are a handful of medications (including hormone replacement therapy and calcitonin) that can lessen the progression of the disease, but none can reverse the effects or restore bones to their previous health. Mary Vasquez understands the outlook well. Her doctor recommended glucosamine and a modified diet, as well as exercise to help curb the disease, but Vasquez reports that she still feels very anxious about her diagnosis.

An electrical device to make bones grow?

A new treatment may be on the horizon that would provide relief for people like Mary Vasquez. It's a device that is placed on top of the affected area, outside the body, and requires no surgical intervention. The device, known generically as an electrical bone growth stimulator, has already been in use for treating fractures and spinal injuries for more than 20 years. It emits an electrical charge, or pulse electromagnetic field (PEMF).

Why it may work

When human bone is bent or broken, it generates an electrical field. This low level electrical field activates the body's internal repair mechanism, which in turn stimulates bone healing and bone growth. In some patients, this healing process is impaired or absent. The fracture fragments may not mend properly, and a nonunion results. In a recent small patient study by the Orthofix Corporation and Wake Forest University, bone growth stimulation was proven very successful in treating fracture non-unions. It is thought that this electromagnetic field stimulates the bones to grow on their own, increasing bone density and lessening the progression of osteoporosis.

Sitting pretty

The bone growth stimulator looks just like a seat cushion, and works on bones in the spine and hips. It is used simply by sitting on the device while watching TV, reading, talking on the phone, or any other activity that can be done while sitting. The user cannot feel any pain or stimulation from the device; it emits such a low quantity of energy that the user may not even realize it is turned on.

The device targets the bones in the spine and hips. According to Howard Teitelbaum, the president of the National Osteoporosis Institute, these are the bones most likely to be broken in a person suffering from osteoporosis. He says they are also the most likely to cause long-term disability because of a fracture.

Current status of the device

OrthoFix is currently testing its bone growth stimulator on people with osteoporosis. This is the first of two FDA required tests. The company hopes that the promising test results will help speed the device to market. This same technology has already passed the safety portion of the FDA's requirements because it has been on the market, in widespread use, for over 20 years.

OrthoFix plans to market the device over the counter so that those at risk for developing osteoporosis can purchase it without a prescription. It is estimated that it will cost between $400-$600.

In the meantime...

Teitelbaum cautions that it will be at least a year before a bone growth stimulator is on the market, providing the studies show it is effective. But that doesn't mean you should sit back and wait. He maintains that it is never too early to start prevention measures.

He encourages people in their mid-30's to get a low-cost screening test, especially if a family member has osteoporosis. These tests cost about $10 and are done on the finger or the heel. They do not provide a definitive diagnosis, but give an idea if you are in a danger zone. If this test shows you have low bone density, you can take the results to your regular doctor and your insurance will usually pay for the traditional bone density test. "Everyone is also approved for a bone density test at age 65, paid for by Medicare," says Teitelbaum.