Increasing bone mineral density in immobilized children using a dynamic stander: Pilot study

Abstract

With passive standing increasingly being incorporated into the therapeutic programs of immobilized children, the impact of mechanical loading on bone mineral density (BMD) has become a focus in the field. However, concurrent research in the bone mechanostat suggests that the oscillating flow created during the reciprocal loading of bone in daily activities is a maj~r contributing factor for increasing BMD. Therefore a dynamic stander, which applies reciprocal loading mimicking those loads experienced during normal walking, was designed. This pilot study was aimed to test the feasibility of using the device in the clinical and educational settings. The preliminary results suggest minimal design modifications and while the data for BMD is inconclusive, results do suggest further investigation to determine the impact the new device has on BMD is warranted.