Stronger for longer: Bringing bone health into the wellness mainstream
Walk into any gym today and you’ll sense a change in the conversation – a shift in members’ goals. The traditional focus on weight loss, cardio fitness and aesthetics hasn’t vanished, but it is being recalibrated as part of a far more holistic outlook. Consumers are widening the lens, redefining ‘fit’ to mean resilient, balanced, mentally steady and physically capable for the long run.
Healthspan has entered the vocabulary, wellbeing is the new vision and longevity the new performance goal. People want to feel good today, but they also want to stay strong, stable and independent as they age. They’re training for energy, for confidence, for emotional wellbeing – and increasingly, for the deeper, structural foundations of long-term health.
As awareness grows around the importance of strength, mobility and the underlying systems that keep us upright, active and pain-free, members are demanding more from their gyms. They want training that supports their whole being, from mental health to metabolism to musculoskeletal strength. They want personalised, preventative solutions that help them move better, recover better and future-proof their bodies.
A broader remit
And gyms are responding, with forward-thinking operators expanding their remit from ‘fitness provider’ to ‘wellbeing partner’. We’re already seeing elements of biohacking in place, with red light therapy and cold plunge two popular choices. We’re seeing recovery zones, a continued focus on functional strength and rising awareness of the need to train VO2 max as the primary indicator of longevity.
Yet bone health still flies under the radar. For all the talk of wellness, resilience and ageing well, our industry rarely addresses one of the most fundamental pillars of lifelong physical capability: the strength and quality of our bones. Osteoporosis and low bone density affect millions of people, with (peri)menopausal women at particular risk, yet bone health remains an almost invisible topic on most gym floors.
In part, that’s due to uncertainty: bone health isn’t an area many operators or trainers feel fully equipped to address. In part, it comes down to evidence: DEXA scans are beyond the budget of many, making tracking improvements challenging. The result: in spite of its huge influence on long-term independence and quality of life, bone health remains a blind spot in an industry increasingly committed to whole-person wellbeing.
It needn’t be this way.
Accessible science
Step forward Performance Health Systems, whose accessible, scientifically-proven bone health solution spans the full journey from bone scan to strength.
Centred around the creation of bespoke, evidence-based interventions, the system harnesses Power Plate®vibration technology with the osteogenic loading system of bioDensity™ – both manufactured by Performance Health Systems – in collaboration with Screen My Bones, which uses Echolight REMS technology to deliver advanced, radiation-free bone density screening.
Starting with the scan, Screen My Bones’ precision technology identifies any issues not only in bone density, but also in the surrounding musculature. This data then enables the design of targeted, personalised programmes to address any imbalances and weaknesses.
Power Plate whole body vibration is a key pillar and the first element of these programmes, thanks to its ability to positively impact bone density.
“Research on whole body vibration shows it stimulates bone formation by activating muscle contractions at 30 to 50 times per second.”
“It’s essentially giving the body a safe mechanical stimulus – similar to load in the skeleton – not only improving bone mineral density but also strengthening the muscles that protect our joints. It’s a de-formation and re-formation process to strengthen the bones.”
This initial activation phase of neuromuscular stimulation and balance enhancement is followed by strength building: high-impact, bone-loading stimulation using bioDensity to promote osteogenesis and improve bone density.
The final phase is muscular recovery and re-stabilisation using Power Plate’s targeted vibration therapy tools.
The entire protocol takes just minutes to complete and is the foundation for insight-based, personalised training to support the body over the long term
Personalised programming
Scientifically proven and suitable for a wide range of individuals – including older adults, high-risk groups and those recovering from illness or weight-related health changes – the protocol offers valuable insight even for seasoned exercisers.
When Aaron Tyler – founder and owner of Feelgood Fitness & Wellness Centre – tried it for himself, he was delighted by his bone density score. However, he learned that the muscles in his femur were not as strong as they should be.
“I’ll now be putting activation work on the Power Plate into my own training plan, focusing on leg strength, by strengthening the muscles around the bone – around the top of the femur – I will further improve the health of the bone as well as the muscle. It’s about trying to get the longevity of my bone and my muscle on a par.”
“This system belongs in every health and wellness environment, from fitness clubs to medical clinics, it’s cost-effective, impactful and bridges the gap between prevention and performance.”
It also requires minimal space and no complex infrastructure, delivering clear ROI through enhanced client retention, differentiated programming and meaningful community health impact.
Certainly for gym operators looking to embrace longevity and healthspan – to in turn meet the needs of members training not just for today, but for life – this is a must-have addition to the wellbeing toolkit.