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Why are there so few actual reports of benefits from Osteostrong, even some showing worsening bone density and occasional fracturing while using the equipment? Most everything to date seems anecdotal and there is no way to tell which people who reported benefit used Osteostrong alone or with medication, supplements, etc. Without studies or actual evidence, doctors are not going to recommend or stand behind it. The cost for me would be 2,400 annually for a 10 minute once a week use of the equipment. If it were beneficial, I'd be all in. Don't get me wrong, I am NOT a fan of the current pharmaceutical offerings but for those of us with really high fracture risk, there doesn't seem to be much of a choice. You may be younger and have been T scores than some of us.. but I don't know.
Replies to "Why are there so few actual reports of benefits from Osteostrong, even some showing worsening bone..."
Osteostrong was not a good choice for me. It caused a spinal fracture. When I started PT this week, she said I wasn’t the first one that this had happened to from going to Osteostrong.
Hi @rubyz, Why don't you check out 12 Poses vs Osteoporosis at http://www.sciataca.org? Dr. Loren Fishman has had success improving bone density with 12 Yoga poses that are safe for osteoporosis. There is a video online with the standard and modified poses for osteoporosis and osteopenia. Algaecal posted videos of the three versions of the 12 poses separately. This can be found athttps://blog.algaecal.com/yoga-for-osteoporosis/
There is also a published paper "Twelve -Minute Daily Yoga Regimen Reverses Osteoporotic Bone Loss" in Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation 2016 Volume 32, Number 2 81-87 which you can google. An expanded clinical trial is currently underway and there are some openings. The details are at http://www.sciataca.org.
I just stumbled across Dr. Fishman's regimen while researching something else, but I've been doing the yoga poses for about a month. working my way up from the osteoporosis version to the Prevention, which I do with some modifications. It was difficult at first, but I'm getting better and steadier at it. For me, it's a nice break from strength training with free weights.
If you want to work with free weights, Margaret Martin, MelioGuide is very good. If you subcribe, she will email you different workouts.
I'm with you on being data-driven. I read multiple peer-reviewed studies on pretty much any pharmaceutical before I take it.
Several years ago, there was a hot, new trendy way to treat herniated discs. I had four of them and three orthopedic surgeons recommending the new trendy cure.
I got a second opinion (mine! 😏) after reading the published studies and thinking that the protocol was fraught with an array of possible unintended consequences. I declined it, took several months helping my back heal and, a decade later, noticed the class action lawsuits representing people badly damaged by the trendy cure. Some in permanent intractable pain.
If some protocol, drug or procedure doesn't have rigorous testing and peer-reviewed longitudinal studies proving results and listing possible side effects, I pass on it. Especially if there's any chance that it could leave me worse off. I think of all of those people who agreed to that non-surgical back protocol who wish they'd waited until it had been unconditionally proven and am thankful for my own skepticism.
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Actually lots of doctors recommend it. And It's always your choice to take prescription drugs with known (serious) side effects OR try other alternative treatments. I know that I have not had any fractures and I've had 10 sessions so far..I see my strength increasing on each machine. And my balance has improved especially on the vibration plate. If the money is an issue and you also don't think it will work, it's obviously not for you. I can't believe that you would pay NOTHING for a drug..so yes $2400 MINUS what you'd pay for medical treatments if you choose to forego them as I have. I'm going to be 73 in October. As I've said, my osteoporosis is in the moderate range per doctor BASED ON THE LAST DEXA SCAN which I now know can be as inaccurate as 15-20%. I JUST know that I'm not doing RECLAST which has been linked to multiple deaths as well as KIDNEY FAILURE. And/or any of the other biphosphonates which have been linked to MANY MANY MANY spontaneous femur fractures (HORRIFICALLY painful from what I've read) and/or jaw bone weakness and breaks.