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Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

Home Treatments & Services Osteoporosis and Osteopenia

Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by thinning and decreased strength of the bones and changes in the structure of the bone itself.

Osteopenia is very similar to osteoporosis, but at an earlier stage of bone loss.

If you picture a line or scale to describe the strength of bone then normal bone would be located at one end of a scale, osteoporosis at the other end of the scale, and osteopenia somewhere in the middle.

Although they can occur at any age, osteoporosis and osteopenia begin most frequently during the first five years of menopause. In fact, approximately 50% of women will break a bone due to osteoporosis at some point in their lifetime.

However, younger women and even children can be at risk to developing osteoporosis or osteopenia if they:

  • have certain other diseases affecting bone development (such as Celiac Disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
  • are taking steroids on a regular basis
  • are an underweight athlete during the peak years of bone development.

Whatever your age, research studies show that physical therapy treatment can help teach you how to keep your bones healthy and help you to avoid fractures.

Symptoms
Treatment Options
What to Expect
Symptoms

Unfortunately, osteoporosis is often a ‘silent’ disease since there may be no outward symptoms until a bone fracture occurs.

Osteoporosis is best diagnosed via a specialized x-ray called a DXA, the ‘gold standard’ test which shows the density of your bone.

There are often clues to look for which point to a possible osteoporosis diagnosis, such as:

  • Loss of height
  • Appearance of a ‘humpback’ or an increase in the normal rounding of your upper back
  • ‘Fragility fractures’ which are fractures occurring in situations that would not normally occur if healthy bones were present such as breaking an ankle after stepping off a curb or breaking a rib when pushing open a window
  • Spinal compression fractures (especially of the thoracic spine which is located between the base of your neck and the beginning of your lower back)
  • Hip or wrist fractures
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing due to reduced lung capacity as posture changes in advanced cases of osteoporosis

Treatment Options

Bone grows when it is sufficiently and safely stressed similar to the way muscles must be challenged by increased weight resistance.

Two types of exercise are optimal for improving bone health: weight-bearing exercise and resistance exercise. We will instruct you on the best ways to rebuild bone and educate you in ways to protect yourself from future injury.

If you are diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia we will work with you to:

  • Teach you how to build bone through safe exercises – especially in your hips, spine, shoulders and arms
  • Instruct you in breathing exercises targeting your diaphragm – it is important for core stability and spinal protection as you use your arms and legs
  • Improve your balance to reduce your risk of falling
  • Improve your posture and, in some cases, regain lost height
  • Help you avoid postures and movements which may increase your risk of fractures
  • Teach you proper body mechanics for exercises so that you will promote bone growth and lessen bone loss and – if you are already participating in an established exercise regimen – you will learn how to continue safely in your routines at fitness classes or at the gym by knowing what postures and which machines to avoid
  • Teach you proper body mechanics for activities of daily living to help you reduce your risk of fracture during everyday tasks (such as unloading your dishwasher or picking up something from the ground)
  • Instruct you in ways to adjust your home and work environments for better bone health

What to Expect

At your first session, your physical therapist will ask questions regarding your symptoms (such as pain, numbness, weakness) and any test results (such as the DXA scan).

She will also ask about your usual routines, such as tasks at work or around the home in addition to what your usual fitness routines may be or if you have any history of falling.

This information will be used to help her determine which specific tests to perform during your physical assessment.

With your permission, she will then examine your muscles and bones looking for asymmetries and imbalances in posture, range of motion, or strength.

Your balance and gait may be assessed as well as your functional ability.

She may photograph your posture or measure your height.

All of this information will help determine exercises and interventions to best help you improve your bone health and decrease your risk and will also be used to measure progress at points of re-evaluation over the next few weeks.

At the end of the session you will be given exercises to start with on your home program.

Depending on your personal goals as well as your physical therapist’s findings, these may include breathing exercises, gentle back strengthening exercises and shoulder/arm exercises. You may also be instructed in better ways to perform functional tasks around your home or office or advised on safer ways to get in and out of your vehicle.

Each week your progress will be reassessed and your home program may be adjusted depending on your improvement.

Your therapist may also work manually to decrease any muscle tightness and improve tissue mobility or range of motion.

One of the most important goals in your personalized program is to get you started on a lifelong pursuit of fitness. We want you to feel better now and in the future.

Your therapist will discuss the many ways you can easily add exercise to your everyday routine.