Attempt of new electrical stimulation method for maintaining bone mass after sports injury and examination of its applicability

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K11456
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59020:Sports sciences-related
• Research Institution: Toyo University
• Principal Investigator: Ohsako Masafumi 東洋大学, 健康スポーツ科学部, 教授 (60152104)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 中井 真悟 常葉大学, 健康プロデュース学部, 講師 (10825540) ; 藤川 芳織 昭和大学, 歯学部, 助教 (60805943) ; 柴田 俊一 北海道医療大学, 歯学部, 客員教授 (80187400)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: ラット / 後肢加重低減 / 骨量減少 / VP通電刺激 / 組織学的分析 / 免疫組織学的分析 / 形態計測 / 骨量維持効果

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the first year, as a basic study, the effects of VP, acupuncture, and transcutaneous electrical stimulation on maintaining bone mass of the femur were compared and investigate using rats with their hindlimb suspended. As a result, bone mass was significantly reduced in the hindlimb suspended group, but bone mass was maintained in the electrical stimulation group, and the effect was particularly clear in the VP electrical stimulation group. In the second year, more effective electrical conditions for the VP electrical stimulation device were compared. A high frequency of intervention per week was effective, and effective results were obtained with intervention of 30 minutes or more per day. Higher voltage and frequency were also effective. In the last year, the possibility of VP electrical stimulation on tibial articular cartilage and knee joint capsule was examined, and it was found that VP electrical stimulation was effective in maintaining tissue structure in both tissues.

Free Research Field

解剖学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

今日、高齢化に伴って骨粗鬆症、変形性膝関節症および関節拘縮の患者が増加の一途を辿っている。それらには薬物療法が広く行われているが、副作用があることも指摘されている。本研究は、動物実験によって、VP通電刺激が安全かつ有効な通電手段であることを証明し、それらの疾患の治療・予防に寄与し得る可能性を示唆した。また、この装置は周波数が高いほど装置の小型化が可能となるが、本研究では高い周波数領域でそれらの疾患の治療および予防効果が高いことが証明された。これらのことは社会実装を考える上でも本研究の成果が有効であることを意味する。これらの点に本研究の学術的および社会的意義があると思われる。