Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis Exercise Guide

Osteoporosis Classes

What is it?

Osteoporosis is a condition which affects the density of bones. Bones are made up of a strong outer lining called cortical bone and a matrix of tiny strands of bone inside called trabecular bone. In osteoporosis the inner bone strands become weaker overtime and become unable to withstand higher stresses. Often this can lead to fractures (broken bones) which result from relatively low forces. The common areas of the body which are affected are the wrist, hip and the spine.
 

It is a condition which generally affects the elderly and post menopausal women. As bone density reduces with age it is thought that roughly half of 75 year olds will have osteoporosis. Those with a family history may have an increased likelihood of developing the condition as are those with low body weight or BMI (body mass index). Other causes of osteoporosis include; certain hormone related medical conditions, particular types of medications and factors such as diet, smoking and alcohol intake.
 

Causes
 

Throughout our lifetime bone cells are constantly regenerating themselves. Old cells are broken down and new cells are generated. With age there is generally a shift towards more bone cells being taken up than new ones being laid down. Bones continue to grow until the age of 16-18, although they continue to acquire more density well into the 20s, by the age of 35 bone density has started to decline. This net loss of bone leads to a reduction in the structural integrity of the bone and subsequent weakness.
 

Treatment
 

If your GP or Physiotherapist feels you may have signs of osteoporosis, it is likely you will be referred for a DXA scan (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry). This will measure your bone density and if appropriate medication and calcium supplements may be prescribed.
 

One of the main reasons why it is so important to monitor osteoporosis is because of the consequences of fractures in the elderly. Falls are relatively common in the elderly for many different reasons and osteoporotic fractures can often result. Wrist and hip fractures are the most common and hip fractures especially can have serious health consequences. It is thought that hip fractures lead to more than 1150 premature deaths in the UK each month (National Osteoporosis Society website).
 

Physiotherapy treatment for osteoporosis is generally directed at reducing the likelihood of falls, strengthening the muscles around the areas of bone weakness and improving posture especially for those who suffer with spinal osteoporosis.
 

At BWT we run successful osteoporosis classes which are a great way to exercise and meet new people in a safe environment.