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A therapeutic device, such as an exercise device, includes the principles of osteogenic repair by incorporating a vibrational loading mechanism into the exercise device. By doing so, the therapeutic device provides an increased osteogenic effect, thereby enhancing the benefits of the therapy. As an

A therapeutic device, such as an exercise device, includes the principles of osteogenic repair by incorporating a vibrational loading mechanism into the exercise device. By doing so, the therapeutic device provides an increased osteogenic effect, thereby enhancing the benefits of the therapy. As an example, an exercise device includes a support surface for supporting all or part of the bodily tissue of an individual using the device. A linear or rotary vibrational loading mechanism associated with the frame or a rotational element of the exercise device drives the support surface at a selected load and frequency, thereby inducing mechanical loading of bodily tissue adjacent to the support surface sufficiently to facilitate the growth, development, strengthening, and/or healing of bone tissue. The vibrational loading mechanism may be incorporated into any exercise device, including standard exercise devices such as rowing machines, stair climbing machines, elliptical trainers, bicycles, cross-country ski trainers, treadmills, or weight trainers.

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What is claimed is: 1. A therapeutic device comprising: a. an exercise device including a support surface for supporting at least part of the bodily tissue of an individual; and b. a rotary vibrational loading mechanism associated with the support surface for driving the support surface at a select

What is claimed is: 1. A therapeutic device comprising: a. an exercise device including a support surface for supporting at least part of the bodily tissue of an individual; and b. a rotary vibrational loading mechanism associated with the support surface for driving the support surface at a selected load and frequency to induce mechanical vibration sufficient to facilitate bone growth or healing of bodily tissue and for inducing mechanical strain in the range of about 50 microstrain to about 500 microstrain into at least one of a user's appendicular skeleton and axial skeleton, wherein the rotary vibrational loading mechanism is adapted to be driven so as to have a peak-to-peak displacement up to about 2 millimeters. 2. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the support surface is a component of a seat support. 3. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the support surface is a component of a lower extremity support. 4. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the support surface is a component of a foot support. 5. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the support surface is a component of an upper extremity support. 6. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the support surface is a component of a handle. 7. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the rotary vibrational loading mechanism comprises a transducer. 8. The therapeutic device of claim 7, wherein the transducer is adapted to be driven so as to vibrate the bodily tissue at a frequency ranging from about 10 Hz to about 100 Hz. 9. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the displacement caused by the rotary vibrational loading mechanism is sinusoidal. 10. The therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the exercise device comprises a stair climbing machine. 11. A therapeutic device comprising: a. an exercise device with a support surface for supporting at least part of the bodily tissue of an individual, wherein the support surface is associated with a rotational element; and b. a rotary vibrational loading mechanism operatively associated with the rotational element for driving the support surface at a selected load and frequency to induce mechanical vibration sufficient to facilitate bone growth or healing of bodily tissue and for inducing mechanical strain in the range of about 50 microstrain to about 500 microstrain into at least one of the appendicular skeleton and axial skeleton, wherein the rotary vibrational loading mechanism is adapted to be driven so as to have a peak-to-peak displacement up to about 2 millimeters. 12. The therapeutic device of claim 11, wherein the rotary vibrational loading mechanism comprises a transducer. 13. The therapeutic device of claim 11, wherein the transducer is adapted to be driven so as to vibrate the bodily tissue at a frequency ranging from about 10 Hz to about 100 Hz. 14. The therapeutic device of claim 11, wherein the displacement caused by the rotary vibrational loading mechanism is sinusoidal. 15. The therapeutic device of claim 12, where the transducer comprises an eccentric cam. 16. The therapeutic device of claim 11, wherein the support surface is a component of a foot support. 17. The therapeutic device of claim 11, wherein the support surface is a component of a handle. 18. The therapeutic device of claim 11, wherein the rotational element is a component of a stair climbing machine. 19. A therapeutic device comprising: a. an exercise device including means for developing or maintaining fitness of bodily tissue or organs comprising a frame defining a support surface for supporting an individual; and b. rotary vibrational loading means associated with the frame for driving the support surface at a selected load and frequency to induce mechanical vibration of bodily tissue sufficient to facilitate bone growth or healing of bodily tissue, wherein the rotary vibrational loading means is adapted to be driven so as to have a peak-to-peak displacement up to about 2 millimeters. 20. The therapeutic device of claim 19, wherein the rotary vibrational loading means comprises a transducer operatively associated with the support surface. 21. The therapeutic device of claim 20, wherein the transducer is adapted to be driven so as to vibrate the bodily tissue at a frequency ranging from about 10 Hz to about 100 Hz. 22. The therapeutic device of claim 19, wherein the displacement caused by the rotary vibrational loading means is sinusoidal. 23. The therapeutic device of claim 19, wherein the support surface is a component of a seat support. 24. The therapeutic device of claim 19, wherein the support surface is a component of a foot support. 25. A therapeutic device comprising: a. an exercise device including means for developing or maintaining fitness of bodily tissue or organs comprising a frame defining a support surface for supporting an individual, wherein the means for developing or maintaining fitness of bodily tissue or organs comprises a stair climbing; and b. rotary vibrational loading means associated with the frame for driving the support surface at a selected load and frequency to induce mechanical vibration of bodily tissue sufficient to facilitate bone growth or healing of bodily tissue, wherein the rotary vibrational loading means is adapted to be driven so as to have a peak-to-peak displacement up to about 2 millimeters. 26. A method of developing and maintaining fitness of bodily tissue or organs or of healing, strengthening, or promoting growth of bone tissue, or any combination thereof comprising: providing a therapeutic device comprising an exercise device that includes a support surface for supporting at least part of the bodily tissue of an individual and that includes a rotary vibrational loading mechanism associated with the support surface; vibrating the support surface at a selected load and frequency to induce mechanical vibration sufficient to facilitate bone growth or healing of the bodily tissue; displacing the bodily tissue up to about 2 millimeters peak to peak; and inducing mechanical strain in the range of about 50 microstrain to about 500 microstrain into at least one of the appendicular skeleton and axial skeleton. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the mechanical vibration is provided by an eccentric cam. 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the mechanical vibration is provided by a transducer. 29. The method of claim 26, wherein the mechanical vibration is provided at a frequency ranging from about 10 Hz to about 100 Hz. 30. The method of claim 26, wherein the mechanical vibration is sinusoidal. 31. A method of developing and maintaining fitness of bodily tissue and organs or healing, strengthening, promoting growth of bone tissue comprising: a. providing a therapeutic device comprising an exercise device that includes means for developing or maintaining fitness of bodily tissue or organs with a frame having at least one support surface for supporting an individual and that includes a rotary vibrational loading means associated with the support surface; and b. vibrating the at least one support surface with the rotary vibrational loading means at a selected load and frequency to induce mechanical vibration sufficient to facilitate bone growth or healing of bodily tissue, wherein the vibrational loading means displaces the bodily tissue up to 2 millimeters peak-to-peak. 32. The method of claim 31, wherein vibrating the support surface comprises vibrating the bodily tissue at a frequency ranging from about 10 Hz to about 100 Hz. 33. The method of claim 31, wherein the displacement caused by the vibrational loading means is sinusoidal.