BACKGROUND: Limited research exists on the effects of OsteoStrong on physical function in older women.

AIM: This randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of OsteoStrong (OS) and dynamic multicomponent exercise (DME) on functional outcomes in older women with osteopenia or osteoporosis.

METHODS: A total of 194 women aged 65-79 years with a T-score of ≤-1.0 at the hip and/or spine were randomized to nine months of either OS (once weekly, 20 min) or DME (twice weekly, 60 min). Outcomes included measures of muscle strength (hand grip and back strength), back and trunk endurance, mobility (sit-to-stand tests, gait speed, Timed Up and Go), and balance (one-leg standing time, tandem standing, tandem walking). Measurements were conducted at baseline and again at nine months.

RESULTS: Both OS and DME showed significant improvements in grip strength, back strength, isometric trunk flexion endurance, gait speed 30 m (m/sec), 5 sit-to-stand (sec) and 50 sit-to-stand speed (n/sec) with no significant between-group differences. DME resulted in greater improvements in gait speed 30 m (+ 7.1% vs. +3.2%, p = 0.001), isometric trunk extension (+ 27.6% vs. +4.4%, p = 0.007), and one-leg standing balance (right leg: +13.1% vs. -2.1%, p = 0.001; left leg: +13.3% vs. -2.4%, p = 0.001) compared to OS.

CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that while both OS and DME improve physical function in older women with osteopenia or osteoporosis, DME provides superior benefits in gait speed, back muscle endurance, and balance. These findings should be interpreted with caution, as they are based on secondary outcomes.