INCREASING BONE FRACTURE RESISTANCE BY REPEATED APPLICATION OF LOW MAGNITUDE FORCES RESEMBLING TRAUMA FORCES

摘要

The invention presents a method and device for increasing the fracture resistance of a bone tissue to a traumatic force. The method includes the step of selecting a nonphysiological impulse force having a location and direction resembling that of the traumatic force, but having a magnitude significantly smaller than the magnitude of the traumatic force. The impulse force is repeatedly applied to the bone tissue, thereby stimulating the bone tissue to grow bone mass in critical areas where stresses from the traumatic force are largest. A device (41) for applying the method includes an impulse force applicator (46) for repeatedly applying the impulse force, and a positioner (42) for positioning the impulse force relative to the bone tissue.