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The research behind the Marodyne LiV device

Professor Clinton Rubin’s research, Low-intensity Vibration (LiV) and the Marodyne LiV device

Professor Clinton Rubin’s Research

NASA’s leading scientists were challenged to develop a non-invasive, drug-free way to ensure astronauts didn’t lose any bone mass while in space. Clinton Rubin, who led the NASA Vibe Project, began by researching the cellular effects and mechanisms of zero gravity. Rubin’s unique idea was to identify new ways to maintain bone substance and ensure mobility, muscle strength and balance while in space.

Over many years, the team developed the concept of low-intensity and low-load stimulation. The concept was refined through years of testing, developing a fully functioning and highly effective Low-intensity Vibration platform. The technology, methods and associated medical results, were increasingly refined and repeatedly subjected to new studies. Over 20 years, scientists across the world have reviewed, revised and refined Low-intensity Vibration techniques.

Today, all of that science, research and innovation is available at your feet within the Marodyne LiV device.

“I have spent the entire 35 years of my scientific career trying to understand how mechanical signals influence the body. One of our key findings has been that extremely low magnitude mechanical signals, delivered in the form of Low-intensity Vibration (LiV), have the capacity to dictate the regeneration patterns of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) found within the body to stimulate bone and muscle and suppress the formation of fat.

We have discovered, through our many years of scientific research, that Low-intensity Vibration promotes the building of lean muscle mass and the conditioning of muscle reflexes. It is the goal of all biomedical scientists to see the work that we do in the laboratory translate to the clinic, to help the health and well-being of patients. It is very exciting, indeed, that we are finally achieving this goal. Thank you for considering the LiV therapy as a means of restoring and protecting bone and muscle. It has been a long scientific journey, but we are very, very pleased to see the application of this technology become a reality.”

– Professor Clinton T. Rubin, Ph.d – Musculoskeletal Research Laboratory, Stony Brook University

Read the research

Mechanical signals promote bone and muscle anabolism while limiting formation and expansion of fat mass. Mechanical signals, such as those induced through low-intensity vibration, need not be large in magnitude, or long in duration, to influence bone or fat phenotypes Pagnotti, Gabriel M et al. “Combating osteoporosis and obesity with exercise: leveraging cell mechanosensitivity.” Nature reviews. Endocrinology vol. 15,6 (2019): 339-355: Read more

LiV signals help childhood cancer survivors with bone density Kirsten K. Ness, The effects of low magnitude high frequency mechanical stimulation (LMS) on bone density in childhood cancer survivors (CCS), Podium Presentation, APTA CSM Indianapolis Feb 2015: Read more

LiV signals may prevent osteoporosis Ward, K. et al. Low magnitude mechanical loading is osteogenic in children with disabling conditions. J. Bone Miner. Res. 19, 360-369 (2004): Read more

LiV signals strengthen long bone Rubin, C., Turner, S. Bain, S., Mallinckrodt, C. & McLeod, K. (2001) Anabolism: Low mechanical signals strengthen long bones. Nature 412:603-604: Read more

LiV signals can improve postural stability Jesse Muir, Stefan Judex, Yi-Xian Qin, Clinton Rubin: Postural instability caused by extended bed rest is alleviated by brief daily exposure to low magnitude mechanical signals Gait & Posture 33 (2011) 429–435: Read more

LiV signals accelerate and augment bone repair Goodship AE, Lawes TJ, Rubin CT.: Low-magnitude high-frequency mechanical signals accelerate and augment endochondral bone repair: preliminary evidence of efficacy. J Orthop Res. 2009 Jul;27(7):922-30: Read more

LiV signals can improve bony ingrowth of implants Rubin, McLeod – Promotion of Bony Ingrowth by Frequency-Specific, Low-Amplitude Mechanical Strain – 1994 Clin Orthop Relat Res. Read more

LiV signals can help to reduce low back pain Holguin N, Muir J, Rubin C, Judex S (2009) Short applications of very low-magnitude vibrations attenuate expansion of the intervertebral disc during extended bed rest: Read more

LiV signals have ability to alter mesenchymal stem cells Rubin, C., Capilla, E., Luu, Y-K, Busa, B., Rosen, C., Pessin, J. & Judex, S. (2007). Adipogenesis is suppressed by brief, daily exposure to high frequency, extremely low magnitude mechanical signals. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 104:17879-17884: Read more 

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