How Exercise Can Help With Osteoporosis
Aging, obesity and chronic health conditions, among other factors, can lead to limited mobility and strength. These issues can in turn contribute to spinal, muscle and joint problems. Starting at approximately 30 years of age, our bones decline in density. If bone mass gets dangerously low, it’s called “Osteoporosis”. Physical exercise, particularly if it’s weight-bearing, can help you better manage Osteoporosis, including its side effects. “The higher you get your bone mass up before 30, the lower the risk of getting Osteoporosis later,” says Dr. Kenneth Stelsoe, a Chiropractor and owner of Enhanced Wellness Studio in Waterloo, Ontario. According to Report on Ageing and Health 2015, a spine, muscle and joint report prepared for the World
Health Organization (WHO), Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Sarcopenia (i.e. muscle loss) affect millions. In Canada, Osteoporosis affects 2 million Canadians but many only get diagnosed after they fracture a bone.
A Mix of Issues:
For most people, spine, muscle and joint problems start with mild symptoms, such as joint pain, stiffness and swelling. Discomfort can prompt you to limit activity, leading to weaker muscles. As you progressively lose range of motion, things start to increasingly hurt. “An inactive lifestyle can contribute to many chronic conditions, including Osteoporosis, among others,” says Dr. Amy Brown, a Chiropractor at Coronation Chiropractic & Massage Therapy in Cambridge, Ontario. Inactivity can also lead to balance issues, which puts you at risk of falling. Also, individuals who suffer from
multiple conditions must often juggle a wide range of medications and all their potential side effects. These conditions can lead to very serious outcomes, such as falls that shorten your lifespan. However, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Gamechanger-The Right Exercise to Manage Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis:
Being physically active can turn things around for those with conditions such as Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis. That’s the power of exercise. Exercise impacts health, but it must be the right exercise. Controlled movements that build strength and range of motion are ideal. A combination of activities, such as swimming, cardio gym machines and low- impact aerobics, can be effective. However, weight-bearing exercise works best to help you manage Osteoporosis.
For those whose range of motion is limited, yoga and Pilates can be helpful, along with further support from Chiropractic care, Registered Massage Therapy and Physiotherapy.
The right activity for the right person can make a big difference. Dr. John Antoniou, an orthopaedic surgeon and former president of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association, says: “You won’t reverse the damage that’s occurred, but it’ll maintain the function that’s still there.” Exercise can help you manage Osteoporosis to slow the rate of bone loss that comes with this age-related bone disease. It can also reverse some age-related muscle mass loss. With less pain, stronger muscles and better balance, you’ll find you can do much more.
How Can a Chiropractor and Your Care Team Help?
A Chiropractor can prescribe a therapeutic exercise program to help increase your strength and range of motion. This program can include stretching, strengthening, postural awareness, balance training and neuromuscular exercise. However, exercise as therapy to help manage Osteoporosis can be challenging because your instinct is to stop moving once you have mild pain. An integrated approach between a medical doctor who is supporting patients with chronic health conditions and a Chiropractor assisting in managing the muscle, spine and joint components can help
you become more active. “The mentality is sometimes it hurts, so I won’t do it,” says Dr. Ed Ziesmann, vice-president of education programs and services for the Arthritis Society. You need to push through discomfort but stop when you feel true pain. Guidance from healthcare professionals on “hurt versus harm” can make sure exercise is healing, not hurting. Meanwhile, for the many people who don’t enjoy traditional exercise, such as going to the gym, Ziesmann advises focusing on doing everyday life activities. These activities can include walking, gardening and playing golf.
Currently, only 1 in 5 Canadian seniors get the recommended 150 minutes of activity per week. With help from healthcare professionals, like a Chiropractor and your integrated care team, you can break this pattern to better manage age-related conditions like Osteoporosis.
Author: Dr. Marco De Ciantis, D.C.