RESEARCHERS at the University of Oregon, USA have demonstrated using miniature implantable sensors that resistance-based rehabilitation can significantly improve bone healing, achieving full recovery in rodent femur injuries within eight weeks.
This groundbreaking study, conducted at the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, utilised miniature implantable sensors to monitor bone healing in real-time. These sensors, developed in collaboration between the Ong and Guldberg labs and further refined by recent graduate Kylie Williams, transmitted data on the mechanical environment at the injury site, enabling precise insights into the healing process. To test the impact of resistance-based rehabilitation, custom-designed brakes were added to exercise wheels for rats, mimicking increased treadmill incline. Rats with femur injuries were divided into three groups: sedentary, non-resistance, and resistance-trained. Over an eight-week period, researchers found that resistance-trained animals displayed earlier signs of healing and developed denser bone tissue, leading to mechanical properties—such as torque and stiffness—comparable to uninjured bones.
Finite element modelling confirmed that high-intensity resistance training significantly increased local strain, boosting compressive strain by 2.0 times at two weeks and 4.45 times at four weeks compared to low-intensity rehabilitation. Importantly, this approach achieved full mechanical restoration without the use of biological agents, such as BMP, which are often relied upon in regeneration studies. The findings suggest that resistance rehabilitation alone has the potential to optimise healing outcomes.
These results hold significant promise for clinical application. Implantable sensors, which offer personalised data on local strain environments, could revolutionise rehabilitation programmes by tailoring exercise intensity to the specific needs of patients. While this study focused on rodent models, the team is working towards adapting the technology for human use. Future research will explore the effects of variable resistance levels during recovery to further refine rehabilitation protocols. By leveraging data-enabled rehabilitation, clinicians may one day offer customised, drug-free recovery solutions that optimise bone healing and functional recovery in human patients.
Katrina Thornber, EMJ
Reference
Williams KE et al. Early resistance rehabilitation improves functional regeneration following segmental bone defect injury. npj Regen Med. 2024;9:38.
[KT1]https://www.emjreviews.com/neurology/news/new-insights-into-depression-skull-bone-marrow-sinuses-and-inflammation/
