The key facts

  • Dr. Shishonin recommends periosteum massage to improve bone marrow function, bone tissue nutrition, and regeneration
  • Osteopath Dmitry Simkin states there is no convincing scientific evidence supporting this method
  • According to Simkin, pain from the procedure is not an indicator of effectiveness, and excessive pressure may cause hematomas and inflammation

A popular recommendation under critical scrutiny

Dr. Shishonin, who gained widespread fame online after an interview with Nadezhda Strelets, recommends massaging the periosteum to enhance bone marrow performance. He claims this improves bone tissue nutrition, triggers regeneration processes in the body, and helps with joint pain and certain spinal disorders. Dmitry Simkin, an osteopath with over 35 years of experience and founder and head of Dr. Simkin's Clinic, told Gazeta.Ru that this method does not work.

Simkin's arguments

According to Simkin, it is impossible to stimulate bone marrow this way because it is located inside the bone, while the periosteum is on the outside. 'The idea that pressing hard on the periosteum directly 'massages' or 'activates' the bone marrow oversimplifies anatomy,' he noted. The specialist stated he reviewed scientific publications on the topic and found no convincing data confirming that mechanical pressure on the periosteum or 'bone massage' enhances blood cell production, boosts immunity, or provides a systemic anti-aging effect. In the only study found linking periosteal impact to bone marrow blood flow, no positive effect was observed; moreover, that study concerned surgical intervention, not external pressure, so its results cannot be directly applied to massage.

Bone repair is not blood cell production

Simkin emphasized that bone repair and remodeling should not be confused with stimulating blood cell production: even if mechanical impact causes a local reaction in bone tissue, this does not mean increased blood cell formation, enhanced immunity, or overall rejuvenation. Furthermore, pain itself, according to him, is not an indicator of therapeutic effectiveness: the periosteum is highly sensitive, the impact can be extremely painful, and excessive pressure may cause hematomas, inflammation, and tissue damage. The chain of reasoning 'press hard on the periosteum → simulate a fracture → stimulate blood cell production, immunity, and rejuvenation,' according to the specialist, currently lacks any scientific confirmation. Previously, the doctor explained why obesity injections might cause bone deterioration.

Why this matters

Advice from a popular online doctor may encourage people to undergo painful procedures without proven benefits and, according to Simkin, even carry risks of hematomas, inflammation, and tissue damage. The practical conclusion from these facts: for joint pain and spinal disorders, one should rely on methods with proven effectiveness and consult specialists, rather than mechanically pressing the periosteum, which, according to available data, does not affect blood cell production.