Lori Shaw of Schwenksville, Montgomery County was recovering from an ankle fracture and torn rotator cuff when she came across some information on Instagram that caught her attention.
A new franchise business called OsteoStrong was getting ready to open in Limerick Township, and Shaw, 63, wanted to learn more.
“I read about it, and it sounded exactly like what I needed,” she said. “I’ve always been an active person, but the injuries had slowed me down and I was having a lot of pain. I knew I needed to work on my strength to get back to where I had been.”
When OsteoStrong Limerick Central, which offers an exercise system designed to stimulate bone growth and promote strength and balance, opened in February, Shaw was the second person through the door.
“If I’d gotten here five minutes earlier, I would have been the first client,” she said. “I was the second, and it’s made all the difference for me. In just two months I’m completely pain free.”
A true believer, Shaw now works at OsteoStrong Limerick Central.
“When I realized how effective this is, I asked about becoming an employee,” she said.
The Owners’ Story
Co-owner Ryan Brown, who owns and operates the location with his wife, Jen Grosso-Brown, also discovered OsteoStrong as part of a quest to relieve pain and increase strength.
A high school football player and former construction worker, Brown has experienced back problems for most of his life.
Looking for solutions, he found information about OsteoStrong and decided to visit a location in Pittsburgh while he and his wife were in the city for a business event.
“Jen and I both went and tried it out, and we were impressed,” Brown recalled. “I felt better right away, and the relief lasted. We came home and we couldn’t stop talking about it.”
The parents of two sons, Iver, 6, and Silas, 3, the couple decided to make the leap to purchase and open a franchise location.
“We both were committed to the business, and we thought we could make it work with our lifestyle,” Grosso-Brown said. “It’s been great so far.”
She particularly enjoys watching her husband, who is in his element as he greets and works with clients.
“This enables him to mesh his personal interests and career goals,” she said. “It’s really fun to see those two things match up for him. He just loves what he’s doing with this business.”
How OsteoStrong Works
The OsteoStrong program is based on osteogenic loading — a type of physical exercise aimed at improving bone density and strength.
Using four proprietary machines, participants apply stress to targeted body areas, signaling the bones to stimulate new growth. As bones get stronger, muscle mass surrounding them increases.
“So, you’re getting the benefit of both stronger bones and stronger muscles,” Brown noted.
Sessions take only between 10 and 15 minutes to complete and are low impact, thereby avoiding strain on the joints.
“The machines are unique in that they work for almost everyone,” said Joseph Fay of Doylestown, a trainer at OsteoStrong. “They use only a person’s body weight to exert a force that’s greater than what bones normally encounter. That’s what makes the bones stronger.”
In addition to the machines, the facility offers hydromassage, red light therapy and other modalities.
“It’s a comfortable environment,” said Grosso-Brown. “We’re generally positive people and we keep a lot of positive energy going here. It’s a place where people can relax while they work on their health.”
While the center has only been open a short time, Brown said the response has been favorable.
“The buzz that’s come about in two months’ time is pretty amazing,” he said.
About OsteoStrong Limerick Central
• OsteoStrong Limerick Central offers an exercise system designed to promote bone density and increase strength and balance.
• It’s located at 100 W. Ridge Pike in Limerick Township, Montgomery County
• OsteoStrong is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. It is closed on Sunday, Monday and Thursday.
• Membership fees are based on which services and programs are accessed. Pricing models include pay-as-you-go, monthly or a combination fee schedule.
