What is it?
Osteoporosis is when the structure of the bone becomes less dense and is at increased risk of breaking.
Osteopenia is a condition where you lose bone mass and can be the stage before getting osteoporosis.
Around 1 million people in Australia have osteoporosis and up to 6 million people are considered to have low bone density.
Risk Factors
Osteoporosis risk factors can include:
- Family history
- Diet: low calcium and/or Vitamin D intake
- Certain medication conditions: certain cancer treatments, coeliac disease, previous bone fractures, diabetes, low hormone levels.
- Smoking
- Low levels of physical activity
Complications
- Back pain
- Loss of height
- Higher risk of bone fractures
- Stooped posture
Management
Treatment should involve a multidisciplinary approach including optimal diet, consulting with your doctor for appropriate medication and exercise prescribed by a health professional. Physios are well placed to assist in the development of a safe and effective program that will also help to minimise falls risk.
Exercise
Ideally your program should be supervised by a physio to consider your comorbidities/injuries when creating your program. It should include weight bearing exercise, resistance training and balance exercises. In clinic, we have the Galileo - a whole body vibration machine that was designed to assist astronauts in their return from space. In space, there is zero gravity - and as such the load on the bones, muscles and other body systems is reduced. This weakens bones creating osteoporosis. The Galileo helps to increase the G-force and load onto the body, encouraging the cells that build bone to increase activity, which is what we want in those that suffer from osteoporosis and osteopenia.
For further information about exercise programs please book an appointment with one of our physiotherapists by calling 95801985 or online here.
Further fact sheets on osteoporosis can also be found at healthybonesaustralia.org.au/