Wearable apparatus for the treatment or prevention of osteopenia and osteoporosis, stimulating bone growth, preserving or improving bone mineral density, and inhibiting adipogenesis

A method for treating or preventing osteoporosis, comprising:

• securing one or more vibrating elements to the body of an individual such that the one or more vibrating elements are maintained against the body while maintaining portability, wherein said one or more vibrating elements are configured to impart repeated mechanical loads to a hip, femur, and spine of said individual at a frequency and acceleration sufficient for therapeutic effect on osteoporosis;
• positioning one or more accelerometers over an iliac crest of the individual;
• applying the repeated mechanical loads to at least the hip, in a lateral direction relative to the individual's body, wherein said one or more vibrating elements impart said repeated mechanical loads during said individual's ambulation;
• and
• measuring the repeated mechanical loads via the one or more accelerometers to measure acceleration at the hip of the individual.

A method for treating obesity, decreasing waist circumference and/or decreasing adipogenesis, comprising:

• securing one or more vibrating elements to the body of an individual such that the one or more vibrating elements are maintained against the body while maintaining portability, wherein said one or more vibrating elements when worn by the individual are configured to impart repeated mechanical loads which are targeted to an iliac crest, femur, and spine of said individual at a frequency and acceleration sufficient for therapeutic effect on obesity;
• applying the repeated mechanical loads to the iliac crest, femur, and spine in a lateral direction relative to the individual's body, wherein said one or more vibrating elements impart said repeated mechanical loads during said individual's ambulation;
• and
• measuring the repeated mechanical loads via one or more accelerometers to measure acceleration at the hip or spine of the individual.

A method for facilitating normal bone maturation, comprising:

• securing one or more vibrating elements to the body of an individual such that the one or more vibrating elements are maintained against the body while maintaining portability, wherein said one or more vibrating elements are configured to impart repeated mechanical loads to a hip, femur and spine of said individual at a frequency and acceleration sufficient for therapeutic effect on bone maturation;
• positioning one or more accelerometers over an iliac crest of the individual;
• applying the repeated mechanical loads to at least the hip in a lateral direction relative to the individual's body, wherein said one or more vibrating elements impart said repeated mechanical loads during said individual's ambulation;
• and
• measuring the repeated mechanical loads via the one or more accelerometers to measure acceleration at the hip of the individual.