This study provides a comprehensive review of the fundamental concepts of mechanotransduction, the process by which mechanical (and infrasonic) stimuli are converted into biochemical responses to influence bone healing. Biomechanical mechanisms include integrin signaling, ion channel activation, and cytoskeletal reorganization, providing a robust framework for understanding how vibration influences bone healing at the cellular and molecular levels. This thoroughness ensures a clear connection between mechanical stimuli and biological outcomes, making it a reliable foundation for evaluating vibration-based interventions in bone repair. Specifically, it discusses how vibration, such as low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) or extracorporeal shockwave therapy, induces cellular responses like membrane hyperpolarization and the generation of oxygen free radicals, which promote osteogenic growth factors such as transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1). It does not consider therapeutic infrasound, but does present mechanotransduction mechanisms which the Infrasound 8 and the CHI Palm activate accelerated healing. It does not consider the friendliness or calming qualities of the signal, but only the amplitude of the stimulation.
3 Mechanotransduction in Osteogenesis
By bridging the gap between clinical outcomes and mechanistic understanding, the Bone & Joint article elevates the CHI Institute’s research from observational to theoretically supported. The CHI studies benefit from the article’s explanation of how vibration can trigger specific cellular responses, such as the activation of osteogenic pathways, which may explain the accelerated healing observed in their trials. For example, the article’s discussion of oxygen free radical generation and TGF-β1 induction provides a plausible mechanism for the enhanced bone regeneration reported in CHI’s studies on fracture healing. This complementary relationship strengthens the overall narrative of vibration-based therapies in bone and tissue healing, suggesting that CHI’s Infratonic devices could be tapping into well-documented mechanotransductive pathways, thereby offering a more robust scientific rationale for their therapeutic use.
