Researchers from China have conducted groundbreaking experiments suggesting that compressing the leg bone might be an effective treatment for traumatic brain injuries and could enhance recovery following a stroke. Doctors have long observed that bones throughout the body tend to heal more rapidly following head trauma, prompting researchers to explore whether this phenomenon could work in reverse. They equipped animals with a device that applied rhythmic compression to the tibia over a five-day period.
In studies involving mice suffering from traumatic brain injuries, this stimulation was found to significantly boost the generation of new neurons and decrease inflammation. The survival rate among severely injured mice rose dramatically from 20% to 90% due to the regular bone compression. Furthermore, just one week post-stroke, these mice performed five times better on memory assessments compared to those that did not receive the treatment. Similar positive outcomes were also noted in pig subjects.
The researchers theorize that the beneficial effects stem from bone cells known as osteocytes. When subjected to mechanical pressure, these cells release a variety of protective signaling proteins into the bloodstream, which seem to facilitate the repair of brain neurons. If these promising results are replicated in human clinical trials, the team aims to create a straightforward wearable device that patients could utilize at home during their rehabilitation process.
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