Insights and News

October 12, 2024

WELCOME TO THE OSTEOBLAST NEWSLETTER, a 5 minute read for a lifetime of benefits. The technologies we discuss how to amplify the natural forces that shape strong bodies, offering greater gains in bone density, muscle strength, athletic performance, health and healing than traditional athletic exercise.

Fact: “We reach peak bone mineral density at around age 30”

Ever wondered why our bodies sometimes seem to resist building stronger bones and muscles? The answer lies deep within our evolutionary history of scarcity. Our bodies are designed to conserve resources, opting to maintain only what’s vital for daily survival. If we’re not regularly exerting force on our bones and muscles, our bodies interpret this as a sign that these structures aren’t needed, thus cutting back on maintaining them.

One of the most striking examples of this phenomenon is seen in astronauts. Without gravity’s pull, their bones and muscles, including the heart, don’t need to work as hard. Consequently, the body halts the replacement of ageing cells, leading to significant losses in bone and muscle density. Despite rigorous resistance exercises designed to mimic gravity’s effects, astronauts still face dramatic decreases in bone density. NASA mandates these exercises to ensure astronauts can walk and function normally upon returning to Earth.

On the flip side, consider the world of gymnastics. Gymnasts boast the highest bone density of any group studied, thanks to the high-impact nature of their sport. Gymnastics, with its extreme impacts, pushes this effect to the max. When gymnasts land, their bodies experience forces far beyond normal gravity, sometimes over ten times the force experienced during regular activities.

This led me to a fascinating pattern: minimal weight on bones leads to deterioration, while high-impact activities stimulate bone growth. It’s as if these activities signal our bodies to reinforce our skeletal structure to withstand the intense forces.

But how does this happen? For years, scientists believed our growth and physical abilities were purely genetic. However, recent discoveries of “chemical messengers” in our bodies have changed this view. These messengers bind to cell receptors, altering cell function, gene expression, and metabolism, initiating significant changes like puberty, wound healing, and the fight-or-flight response.

Crucially, some messengers trigger new bone formation, but only when bones experience forces strong enough to bend them. High-impact activities release these signals, promoting bone growth.

Stay tuned as we dive deeper into peer-reviewed research and science demonstrating the impact of high-impact exercise on bone density. Exciting discoveries await!

What are you doing to slow your bone density loss?

If you want to engage in an activity that mimics the high-impact, high-load-bearing exercise required to increase bone density—without the associated risks and difficulties—click here to book a spot for our next OsteoStrong Open Hour Event on Saturday, August 3rd, from 12 to 1 PM. Come and learn how it works and try it out for yourself. Plus, you will also have a chance to WIN A FREE MONTH at OsteoStrong.

Till next time. Have an Osteoblast!

-Ryan