bioDensity™? bioDensity™ was created by Dr. John Jaquish. Dr. Jaquish began his experience in life sciences after being told by his mother that she had been diagnosed with osteoporosis. He, in an effort to help his mother, created a device to place axial loading through bone to safely cause osteogenic loading events. The device was to trigger the effects of high-impact loading, but without the risk of injury. After successfully reversing his mother’s osteoporosis, as part of his doctoral dissertation in biomedical engineering research at Rushmore University, he conducted four years of testing with human subjects focused on user comfort, biomechanics, and optimal musculoskeletal stimulation. Next, the device he designed – bioDensity™ – was put into production, and has since been placed in over 240 clinics worldwide. As recently outlined in Crain’s Chicago Business, bioDensity™ “exerts force as great as nine times body weight to stimulate bone growth. Patients push against the machine but don’t break a sweat, and the treatment is only once a week for 10 minutes.” Does it work? Yes. Performance Health Systems conducted a 12-week trial focused on 60 men and women in their early 80’s and studied the effects of using bioDensity™ and Power Plate on strength (force production), balance, and functional independence at Springpoint Senior Living facilities. The results were decidedly impressive and included:
- Significant increases in force production
- Increase of 47-48% for chest press
- Increase of 50-51% for leg press
- Increase of 22-38% for vertical lift
- Remarkable improvements in static and dynamic balance
- Improved leg strength; reducing fall risk and incidence
Additionally, researchers found that certain types of weightlifting and jumping exercises (when done continuously for six months) improve bone density and could decrease osteoporosis by facilitating bone growth in active, middle-aged men with low bone mass. “Weight-lifting programs exist to increase muscular strength, but less research has examined what happens to bones during these types of exercises,” said Pam Hinton, an associate professor and the director of nutritional sciences graduate studies in the MU Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. “Our study is the first to show that exercise-based interventions work to increase bone density in middle-aged men with low bone mass who are otherwise healthy. These exercises could be prescribed to reverse bone loss associated with aging.” As the founder of Fitness for Health, a therapeutic, exercise facility working with children through senior citizens in the Washington, DC, area, I have seen firsthand the power of bioDensity™ and weight-bearing exercise to improve bone and joint health in the middle age population and the importance of fitness for seniors. In fact, we are proud to have created a bone and joint health program for women – and men – as they age. Fitness for Health provides a revolutionary, 12-week Bone and Joint Health Program for adults and seniors that capitalizes on weight-bearing, fitness activities. This groundbreaking program helps to improve posture and increase bone density, strength and balance while counteracting the effects of osteoporosis, osteopenia and aging. The Bone and Joint Health Program elicits results faster and more effectively than traditional exercise (fitness for seniors) or pharmaceuticals through two state-of-the-art fitness technologies:
- bioDensity™ – Weight-bearing exercises are the key to stimulating bone growth, and the greater the weight applied, the better the results. The osteogenic loading that patients receive is multiples of bodyweight, and beyond what is typically seen in exercise. Research has shown, bone density gains that averaged 7% in the hip and 7.7% in the spine over one year using bioDensity (Jaquish, 2013). These results are multiples of what the current interventions can do for bone density.
- Power Plate™ – Power Plate is a whole body vibration platform that allows for reflexive engagement of the neuromuscular system at rapid and repeatable oscillation. This intervention has been clinically shown to increase balance and stability in both healthy and aging-frail populations.
When used once a week, research has shown the bioDensity system alone has significantly increased bone mass density, stability and functional movement with multiple ages, health conditions and for both genders. Learn more about how we can help you create a customized fitness for seniors program that counteracts the signs of aging while helping to maintain weight management and increase bone and joint health.]]>
Tags: bone health, bone and joint health, fitness for seniors, biodensity, power plate, osteoporosis, osteopenia, exercise, fitness