Dr. Daijiro Haba, RPT, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Global Nursing Research Center
This study involves investigating the efficacy of wearable vibration dressings in promoting wound healing, specifically in the context of full-thickness wounds in a hyperglycemic (high blood glucose) rat model, which may be related to conditions such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in humans. Local low-frequency vibration (LLFV) promotes blood flow and wound healing in difficult-to-heal DFUs, but vibration treatment is challenging in patients with DFUs due to wound management difficulties and low adherence. Therefore, the development of portable self-care devices is imperative for effective wound healing. We fabricated the wearable vibration dressings which apply LLFV to the wound area. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential benefits of LLFV from a wearable vibration dressing on the full-thickness wound in hyperglycemic rats. The results showed that LLFV improved glucose metabolism and inflammation, promoted angiogenesis resulting in an increase in total blood volume at the wound site and wound healing. By investigating the effects of the wearable vibratory dressing on wound healing and associated factors, we contribute to the understanding of how vibration therapy can be optimized for individualized care strategies. The wearable vibration dressing validated the feasibility and efficacy of the intelligent vibrational dressing concept, which may be an attractive treatment for DFUs and an unconstrained self-care device to promote wound healing at home.
Access the full paper here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37950849/