By Emily Zanto, Owner, OsteoStrong North Asheville

Most people don’t think about bone health until pain, a fall, or a DEXA scan brings it to their awareness. I was one of those people. Before moving to North Carolina, I was working twelve-hour shifts as an Oil Production Optimization Engineer in the Alaska oil fields. I spent my work days largely seated with bad posture, intensely focused, with tensed muscles that resulted in severe lower back pain, which I then spent my days off trying to reduce.

To mitigate my back pain, I tried yoga, rolphing, chiropractic care, massage, and physical therapy. Everything helped a little, but not for long. Then I discovered OsteoStrong, which had just opened in Anchorage in October 2023. I didn’t know much about bone health at the time, but after being asked what my bone density was, I was motivated to have my first DEXA scan which unfortunately showed I already had osteopenia at the age of 51.

OsteoStrong introduced me to osteogenic loading, a method that stimulates the body’s natural ability to rebuild bone and strengthen joints by emulating impact force. I was then so relieved after just a few months of going to OsteoStrong, I experienced the results of osteogenic loading firsthand. My back pain decreased, my strength improved, and for the first time in a long time, my back felt better and not just for a few days!

That experience changed my career plans. I decided that instead of optimizing oil production, I wanted to help people optimize their health and wellbeing! I wanted to share this technology and its positive health results with others and find a community where active lifestyles are a defining part of life (with less snow than Anchorage). Asheville felt like the perfect fit. A place where people stay active into their 60s, 70s, and beyond. So I made the decision to quit my job and relocate to the Asheville area with the mission to open an OsteoStrong center that could help people preserve mobility, prevent fractures, and feel strong as they age.

In March 2025, OsteoStrong North Asheville opened its doors.

At our center, members complete a weekly, 15-minute session guided by trained coaches. Using our specialized equipment, they perform controlled, high-force movements that mimic the impact force required to signal bones to rebuild without the actual impact on joints. Then, after completing their osteogenic loading, our members get to enjoy our wonderful healing modalities including our BioCharger, red light therapy, hydromassage, cryotherapy, and compression boots, which are not just good for our bodies, they feel good too.

Beyond the science, what makes our center special is the community we’ve built – encouraging and supportive as we are all progressing towards our goals. Every week, we get to watch people stand taller, move more easily, and feel more capable in their daily lives.

Bringing OsteoStrong to the Asheville area is more than a professional endeavor for me, it’s a personal mission to give people back the strength, confidence, and pain-free mobility they deserve. If you’re concerned about your bone health and want to stay active for decades to come, we’re here to help you build a stronger you.