A NEW pilot trial suggests that adding low-frequency electrical stimulation to exercise may enhance local bone outcomes in premenopausal women at risk of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis Risk Spurs Novel Intervention
The need for accessible strategies to prevent osteoporosis, particularly among women and underserved groups, has driven interest in non-pharmacological options. Electrical stimulation has long been explored for its osteogenic potential, but evidence in healthy premenopausal adults remains limited. In this study, researchers evaluated whether a portable, low-frequency device applied to the greater trochanter could augment the effects of supervised interval training. The aim was to determine whether targeted stimulation could improve bone mineral content and structure in a population often overlooked in osteoporosis research despite clear long-term vulnerability.
Osteoporosis Trial Tests Portable Stimulation Device
In the double-blind, randomised 10-week trial, 48 healthy premenopausal women aged 18–45 were allocated to either a stimulation (STIM) group or a placebo (NSTIM) group. Participants completed 30 supervised exercise sessions with or without electrical stimulation while investigators collected DXA-derived bone mineral content (BMC), bone area (BA) and bone mineral density (BMD) at baseline, mid-point and post-intervention. Mixed-design ANOVA and ANCOVA were used to compare changes by group and time. Despite high attrition and the small sample typical of pilot studies, adherence during supervised sessions allowed for robust interim physiological assessments relevant to early osteoporosis prevention.
Local Bone Gains Highlight Potential Osteoporosis Tool
Significant Group × Time interactions emerged for leg BMC (p=0.013) and leg BA (p=0.015), with the STIM group experiencing measurable increases across the intervention period. In contrast, the NSTIM group demonstrated either slight declines or incomplete recovery in these leg-specific outcomes. Whole-body BMC and BMD remained unchanged in both groups, consistent with the localised nature of the stimulation. Adjusted analyses confirmed superior final leg BMC and BA values among those receiving stimulation, while BMD stability suggested structural rather than density-driven gains.
These early findings indicate that combining electrical stimulation with exercise may offer a scalable, non-drug option for improving local bone health. Larger, more inclusive trials are needed to verify efficacy and explore site-specific responses.
Reference
Comtois AS et al. Increased Bone Mineral Content in Response to Electrical Stimulation. Clin Ther. 2025;DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2025.10.009.
