Development of a new method to strengthen bones throughout the body by electromyostimulation at a single location

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K12778
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 90110:Biomedical engineering-related
• Research Institution: Kanazawa University
• Principal Investigator: Tanaka shigeo 金沢大学, フロンティア工学系, 教授 (20262602)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 電気的筋刺激 / 骨粗鬆症 / 骨質

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Electromyostimulation could be a promising non-pharmacological method of osteoporosis prevention for the elderly who have difficulty in exercising. On the other hand, the target for stimulating osteogenesis is limited to the bone at the site of stimulation. In this study, we demonstrated in vivo and in vitro that random electrical stimulation can remotely maintain and improve the mechanical properties of bone even with stimulation at a single location, and that this occurs by promoting cross-linking of bone collagen. This finding indicates that electromyostimulation does not require the placement of numerous electrodes throughout the body, contributing to the feasibility of clinical application of the method.

Free Research Field

生体医工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、ランダム電気的刺激を用いた場合、単一箇所への刺激だけで遠隔的に骨を刺激することが明らかとなり、この知見は電気的筋刺激による非薬物的骨粗鬆症予防法の実現性を高める上で有益である。また、ランダム電気刺激の遠隔的効果と骨形成を伴わない骨質強化という作用は学術的にも興味深く、骨の物理刺激応答を論じる分野において新たな概念を提示するものである。特に、同刺激が、骨コラーゲンの架橋を促進することで骨質を向上させている効果は、骨形成が起こりにくい骨粗鬆症高齢者において新たな骨折予防法となり得る可能性を有している。