Abstract: A hip positioning apparatus for maintaining an individual in an immobilized position for Dual X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). A patient positions his or her groin against a centering member mounted on a frame. A pair of knee restraints mounted to the frame secures the knees of the individual in a manner to ensure that the knees are fully extended and the legs of the individual are spaced apart a predetermined amount. A pair of foot restraints pivotally mounted to the frame holds the individual's groin against the centering member and immobilizes the legs of the individual relative to the frame, Each of the foot restraints holds the respective one of the individual's feet at a predetermined angle relative to the individual's body.

Abstract: Bone disorders may be treated by applying a compressive preload and repetitive impacts. The patient may be maintained in a static position and the preload be provided by gravity or compression. The impact load, impact rate, and a number of impacts determined by a physician prior to treatment are chosen to generate electrical signals in the patient's bone such that the majority of energy of the electrical signals lies between 0.1 Hz and 1 kHz, and the peak amplitude values of the electrical signals lie between 15 and 30 Hz.

Abstract: A method and device are described for providing passive exercise treatment for increasing the amount, strength and proper anatomical distribution of bone in a patient suffering from a bone disorder. The method involves determining a value for impact load, impact rate, and treatment duration for the patient to provide treatment for the bone disorder, and repeatedly lifting the patient's heels a prescribed drop excursion and then allowing the patient's heels to drop from the prescribed drop excursion to impart the determined impact load at the determined impact rate for the determined treatment duration. The values for impact load, impact rate, and treatment duration are signals based upon the characteristics of the patient's skeletal tissue and ensure that an electrical signal generated in that tissue has certain characteristics.

Abstract: A method and device are described for providing passive exercise treatment for increasing the amount, strength and proper anatomical distribution of bone in a patient suffering from a bone disorder. The method involves determining a value for impact load, impact rate, and treatment duration for the patient to provide treatment for the bone disorder, and repeatedly lifting the patient's heels a prescribed drop excursion and then allowing the patient's heels to drop from the prescribed drop excursion to impart the determined impact load at the determined impact rate for the determined treatment duration. The values for impact load, impact rate, and treatment duration are signals based upon the characteristics of the patient's skeletal tissue and ensure that an electrical signal generated in that tissue has certain characteristics.