Anyone had experience with OsteoStrong, who is not a franchisee?

Posted by tikigod18 @tikigod18, Jan 29, 2019

Has anyone had experience with OsteoStrong? It suggests you will get a large increase in bone density while using their facility 10 minutes per WEEK. Somewhat pricey at $99 and up per month, but am curious if anyone who is NOT a franchisee, has experienced this program?

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@inquiringmind8

If done with and guided by a certified trainer, not by yourself, BioDensity, osteogenic loading, is a safe and has scientifically proven health benefits (by improving muscle strength, balance and bone density). I go to a place called WholeBodySystems in Georgia and it has really helped me in many ways. Absolutely no injuries or pain, and I am monitored by a certified therapist at all times while doing the 4 exercises on the BioDensity unit. Everyone's results will be different of course and nothing is a miracle cure but every little bit counts if done in moderation and correctly. They also provide low intensity PowerPlate vibration sessions which also can help to build bone/muscle and improve balance, again supervised/monitored, which is key. Highly recommend them. I also recommend Margaret Martin's info, posts and videos. She is very knowledgable on osteoporosis. Research is key.

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Tread carefully with Osteostrong. I went fir 4 months, have damaged a lumbar disc. I am not questioning whether it works, I believe it does BUT, and it’s a big BUT, Osteostrong was developed to be used by returning astronauts, young fit healthy people in their prime, who suffered osteoporosis from weightlessness in space. It was not intended for use by older, physically compromised, weaker, less fit people. It’s a powerful tool, fir the physically well, but can be very damaging to those of us with seriously weakened bones, ligaments, muscles etc.
Furthermore you sign away any recourse you could have fir long term damage,
As I started here, TREAD CAREFULLY.

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@lbaisley

Both my husband and I are members of OsteoStrong in Happy Valley, OR location since February 2021. This is not a gym, nor from what I understand is intended to replace exercise.

It takes roughly 15-20 minutes each week. The goal is to activate growth triggers for various sections of the human body: Upper, Lower, Core, and Postural. They have four devices used to measure/activate the various "growth triggers". Each device provides instant biofeedback with the member's force exertion measured in pounds and multiples of body weight. This data is recorded and is sent to us via weekly report showing the results from the first session, best session, previous session and current session for each section.

I am not a medical professional. Let me know if you have any questions and will try to answer to the best of my ability.

Lynnette

PS..I did have to travel to Iowa for a family funeral. I was able to visit the Clive Iowa location so that I could keep on track.

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Just wondering of you have a more recent feedback from your DEXA scan?
I'm currently consdering Osteostrong instead of Prolia but will have to travel a fair way to participate Have you had a good improvement?

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@rhorich

Just wondering of you have a more recent feedback from your DEXA scan?
I'm currently consdering Osteostrong instead of Prolia but will have to travel a fair way to participate Have you had a good improvement?

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No dexa results yet. Please tread carefully re osteostrong. I have had to cease going, it damaged a lumbar disc. It was developed to treat returning astronauts, super strong healthy fit people, and can be damaging when used by older people, nit so fit and who have multiple health issues.

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I consider Osteostrong hazardous with osteoporosis. Your muscles can be capable of lifting weight that will crush your bones.

The interplay between muscle strength and bone is established science. Bones become stronger with increased muscularity.
The physiology of vibration during lifting engaged by osteostrong (sometimes referred to as a biohack) is established as increasing muscle and bone denstiy. (Though there is still quibbling about rate and intensity.)

With osteoporotic bone the violation of normal sequencing (which would be vibration subsequent to impact) risks fracture.
During my only visit the assistant (delightfully) encouraged me to extend my limits and flattered my ability. She also misplaced the leg bar. Then confessed that last week she was working in a warehouse and had only two days of training.

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Not encouraging. But agreed, flattery is prominent, but minimum of any understanding of how/why/if the concept works. When I went for my free trial,I asked about studies and was told everything is online. There are a few in-house studies with very small numbers. However mainstream clinical studies are being done by Melbourne University.
It’s a strong tool, not for offer compromised bodies.

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@gently

I consider Osteostrong hazardous with osteoporosis. Your muscles can be capable of lifting weight that will crush your bones.

The interplay between muscle strength and bone is established science. Bones become stronger with increased muscularity.
The physiology of vibration during lifting engaged by osteostrong (sometimes referred to as a biohack) is established as increasing muscle and bone denstiy. (Though there is still quibbling about rate and intensity.)

With osteoporotic bone the violation of normal sequencing (which would be vibration subsequent to impact) risks fracture.
During my only visit the assistant (delightfully) encouraged me to extend my limits and flattered my ability. She also misplaced the leg bar. Then confessed that last week she was working in a warehouse and had only two days of training.

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At the Osteostrong that I attend there is no vibration while using the machines. My assistant is very knowledgeable and makes sure I use the machines correctly each time.

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You will likely and I hope have successful experience with osteostrong. My limited experience is a limited view of a person with deep fear of fracture. It was very pleasant at osteostrong. My assistant was not negligant and carefully positioned me incorrectly. I didn't listen to her cheerful encouragement to maintain the lift and wasn't swayed by her compliments. You maintain stead in the machines and are very unlikely lift in a bone compromising postion or to fall.
Anectdotal evidence of elderly who have fractured and blamed osteostrong will fail in court. Like us they have signed clearly written waivers of any right to pursue legal rectification.

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@bunky44

Very appreciative of your research and reply to us all. Information is the key to understanding the options that are available to us. No one is the same when it comes to facing the daunting discovery of having osteoporosis..and that sinking feeling of "Now what"?
I've been following the threads of 'Connect' for quite sometime now..and I feel that the general consensus is that we don't do well with the Western pharmaceuticals en mass.....so what are our alternatives?
While trying to do our best in eating and daily exercise routines...are at best, wishful thinking..as our bones have no ego here...they either get what they need to stay strong..or they grow weaker as we age....unless we can manage to change that equation..without becoming a star athlete, PT or soothsayers.
NASA faced the problem of their astronauts developing bone loss from the lack of gravity..and man was that fast for many in the programs. They developed a way of giving back bone density to their astronauts by using vibration techniques..which showed great promise as well as better BMD scores.
While strenuous exercise is required to even begin to rebuild bone mass...so are the right supplements, as well as the correct amounts of calcium..to even begin to stimulate the bones to wake up and start to deliver more 'mass'. I fear that the reality of making major life changes for the oh so many in our age group..to be nothing short of impossible....so, what else could we be doing? While there are
'natural' supplements out there..where to start with those..when 'profit' is always the goals of any company....believing in what one company promises might bring hope and a mental high in thinking "oh this will work for me'".there doesn't seem to be an overriding consensus that any of these will actually help..and in a timely manner..as we are mostly considered to be 'elderly'....even if we don't 'feel' that to be true.
I would like to have more information as to the effects of the vibration techniques that are out there and available to the public. Businesses like OsteoStrong are gaining in popularity because of the many modalities they offer, I would imagine....again, knowledge....The science behind vibration therapy is extensive and available online....as are the many products that offer some hope for so many. Learning the differences between the frequencies and vibrations...cause and effect is the responsibility of the user...but gee..if NASA was interested enough to solve this problem for their own..then hopefully we can bring that bit of knowledge into our own homes.
Full disclosure...I do have an "OsteoStrong" facility in my small town in Southern Oregon...I am scheduled for an initial walk through complimentary hour this coming Tuesday....my main goal here is to see what they are doing....resistance training..as opposed to free weights...and also interested in their vibration machines..and at what frequency they are using them at.
My DEXA scores are far worse than any of the ones I've seen on this thread...being a -4 lumbar and -3 hips....oy.....but....I am without pain when I walk and dance and move around. I am taking a product called "GrowBone" and have followed their protocol for months now and will get another scan in July. I considered myself an athlete..still do...my tennis racket, pickleball equip always in my car and ready to play! I had to have a hysterectomy when I was 25, I'm 77 now...and took meds at the time that also decreased my bone mass....So here I am today...seeking ways of ameliorating my condition without the awful side effects that big Pharma has to offer. I will continue my research...if any of you have any better ideas..please inform! Bless you all...you give me strength!

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I know you posted this long ago, but I hope you get a notification to my reply. I just joined here and appreciate you writing what your situation is and creating a sense of community with your sign-off "Bless you all..."
I joined OsteoStrong a month ago thinking it might be preventative for me. Amazingly, it is only 10 minutes from my house and just opened in the last year. Then I got diagnosed last week with osteoporosis; my T scores are all between -2.5 and -2.8. It has really shaken me up; I am 59 and have been very healthy otherwise except for depression for which I have taken meds since I was 32. But I have never been able to digest dairy and looking back, I have been inconsistent with vitamin supplements including calcium and only learned about taking vitamin D maybe 10 years ago. I didn't think I would be at risk so much because I eat other calcium rich foods, and some sources say that dairy isn't the best source of calcium anyway. All to say that I am still in a bit of shock about this. I have a terrible time getting myself to exercise by myself so I really like going to Osteostrong, but I am reading mixed reviews. So not sure what to do.
At some point I might try the AlgaeCal products because they offer a full refund if your Dexa scan doesn't show improvement. But I will finish up the supplements I am taking now first. I don't have financial resources to just do whatever I want, but yet I am fortunate that I can do some of these things if I economize in other areas.
Thank you to anyone who reads this. Writing is helping me to organize internally to get geared up for some changes. I can't be this sedentary anymore...and I am not completely sedentary...swim twice a week and have often taken dance classes in the past. But need to up my game to feel hopeful about being able to enjoy a long life into elder ages. Best to all!

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@srshealthy0401

Hi, Thanks for your post. I have been doing OsteoStrong for 3 months now. As you stated, it's not a gym and I do aerobic and light weight-lifting on the side. My understanding is that the only way to measure bone strength/density is the Dexa scan, so I won't know until I have a new scan whether my bone density is increasing. However, I do feel stronger and the weekly session has prompted me to now increase focus on my nutrition. I wondered if you are doing any specific exercise to build muscle? I believe stronger muscles help with bone strength and density.

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Any update about your progress? Have you had another Dexa scan?

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@jayesspee

I know you posted this long ago, but I hope you get a notification to my reply. I just joined here and appreciate you writing what your situation is and creating a sense of community with your sign-off "Bless you all..."
I joined OsteoStrong a month ago thinking it might be preventative for me. Amazingly, it is only 10 minutes from my house and just opened in the last year. Then I got diagnosed last week with osteoporosis; my T scores are all between -2.5 and -2.8. It has really shaken me up; I am 59 and have been very healthy otherwise except for depression for which I have taken meds since I was 32. But I have never been able to digest dairy and looking back, I have been inconsistent with vitamin supplements including calcium and only learned about taking vitamin D maybe 10 years ago. I didn't think I would be at risk so much because I eat other calcium rich foods, and some sources say that dairy isn't the best source of calcium anyway. All to say that I am still in a bit of shock about this. I have a terrible time getting myself to exercise by myself so I really like going to Osteostrong, but I am reading mixed reviews. So not sure what to do.
At some point I might try the AlgaeCal products because they offer a full refund if your Dexa scan doesn't show improvement. But I will finish up the supplements I am taking now first. I don't have financial resources to just do whatever I want, but yet I am fortunate that I can do some of these things if I economize in other areas.
Thank you to anyone who reads this. Writing is helping me to organize internally to get geared up for some changes. I can't be this sedentary anymore...and I am not completely sedentary...swim twice a week and have often taken dance classes in the past. But need to up my game to feel hopeful about being able to enjoy a long life into elder ages. Best to all!

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Be careful with osteostrong.
The vibration plates they use have a g force of between 8-15. Prof Rubin who has spent 30 years researching vibration therapy is adamant that only up to 4g is safe.

Secondly please don’t use the machines if you have ANY disc issues. You sign a waiver absolving them if any responsibility fir injuries. My disc issue has become very pronounced since I started osteostrong.

I have since ceased going and my back is improving.

I do not doubt that bone loading is an effective treatment but you need to ensure your body can take it.

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