Bone Health: Osteoporosis, What is it, and how can Physical Therapy Help?

Bone Health: Osteoporosis, what is it and how can Physical Therapy help?

Osteoporosis, or extremely low bone mineral density, is a condition that makes bone more brittle and causes people to be more likely to suffer a fracture. A related condition, osteopenia, indicates that you are beginning to lose bone mineral density, but it has not yet progressed to osteoporosis. Osteoporosis affects about 54 million Americans. Up to 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men over the age of 50 will have a fracture secondary to low mineral density.  Osteoporosis results in an estimated 2 million fractures each year, and an estimated $19 billion in healthcare costs each year.  Osteoporosis is a concern because fractures and weakening of bones can lead to loss of height, pain, loss of mobility, and social isolation, in extreme cases leading at times to nursing home placement and death. 

Osteoporosis can be difficult to detect, because the first “symptom” you’ll feel is often a fracture. You cannot feel your bones getting more brittle, so it is important to work with your doctor to be screened appropriately and ensure that you know the status of your bone health. You should be screened if you are a female over the age of 65, a male over the age of 70, you are over the age of 50 and have had a fracture, or you are between the ages of 50-64 (females) or 50-69 (males) and have factors that put you at increased risk for bone density problems. The most commonly performed screening test is •Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, or a Dxa scan, similar to an X-ray. It is very safe, and actually results in less radiation exposure than flying on a plane across the US.

Problems with bone density are more common as we age. Genetics plays a huge role in determining bone health as we age, so not all problems with bone density are 100% preventable, which is why screening is so important. Hormonal changes as we age make us more likely to have an imbalance between bone break down and bone building, leading to less density and strength in our bones. Other factors that put us at risk for bone density problems include:

-Gastrointestinal problems
-Use of medications such as gluocorticoids, steroids, or anti-rejections medications following a transplant
-Treatment for cancer (chemo, radiation)
-Cancer metastases to the bone
-Treatment for cancer (chemo, radiation)
-Cancer metastases to the bone
-Thyroid conditions
-Being extremely underweight or overweight
-Tobacco use
-Excessive alcohol use
-A sedentary lifestyle
-Poor diet
-Disordered eating

The good news is that there are interventions that can help to slow or prevent bone loss, or in some cases even rebuild bone. In addition to medications that your endocrinologist or primary care provider may recommend, physical activity is an important part of prevention of and treatment for bone density problems. Learning how to move safely with good body mechanics can greatly reduce risk of fractures. Exercise to load your bones, especially resistance training for all your major muscle groups with an appropriate load, and balance, cardiovascular, and flexibility training to help maintain your mobility are important interventions that are easy to implement with some guidance from a physical therapist.  Even if you have had a fracture, a physical therapist can help you rehabilitate to reduce pain, improve your mobility, and reduce your risk for future fractures.

While bone density can be a common and scary problem as you age, you’re not alone!  Make sure you’ve undergone the appropriate screening tests with an endocrinologist, and call a physical therapist at Langford today to be assessed and start a customized exercise program to improve your posture, strength, flexibility, balance, and endurance to help you begin moving better and more confidently, and reduce your risk for fracture.