Let’s Talk Osteoporosis!

Let’s Talk Osteoporosis!

By Dr. Jennifer Rice DPT

The definition of Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to increased fragility and susceptibility to fracture(2). Basically bones become weaker and “brittle” where even mild stresses can put bones at risk for a fracture. Our bones are strongest, or at their greatest peak bone mass, during adolescence, which is considered between the ages of 20 and 30. After that, our bone mass begins to decline a little every year. Globally, OP causes more than 8.9 million fractures annually, with one occurring every three seconds. In the United States approximately 1.5 million osteoporotic-related fractures occur each year(3). About half of women 50 years and older will suffer an osteoporitic-related fracture in their lifetime, along with 1 in 5 men.

Unfortunately, most people don’t even know they have OP until they suffer a fracture or notice an decrease in their height. Others complain of back pain and until a MRI is done they may not have known their back pain was the result of compression fractures due to lower than average bone mass. Other common areas of osteoporotic-related fractures are the hip, pelvis and wrist.

Our bones, like other systems in our body, are constantly remodeling throughout our lifetime. Bones are made up of collagen, a protein that provides the basic framework, and calcium phosphate, a mineral that makes the bones hard. As stated earlier, the strongest our bones are is during adolescence and as we age we lose more bone material than we replace. The greatest change, in women’s bone density, occurs 5-7 years after menopause when the body no longer produces the same amount of estrogen. Because of this, 80% of individuals with OP are women (4).

Bone loss is a natural part of aging, but not everyone will lose enough bone density to develop OP. Men lose bone density as they age as well, however, the loss occurs over a longer period of time, hence it may be under-diagnosed in men. Sex of an individual is considered an uncontrollable “risk factor” along with heredity and ethnicity. Osteoporosis is more common among Caucasian and Asian individuals. Medical conditions that may also be linked to developing OP due to bone loss are Type I Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, and Hormonal Disorders. Individuals who may have been on steroids for extended periods of time are also at a higher risk for developing OP (1).

Controllable, or life-style choices, that place individuals at a higher risk for developing OP are inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and diets low in calcium and vitamin D. Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa or avoidant restrictive food intake disorder, can impact bone remodeling negatively.

If your doctor is concerned with your bone mineral density he or she will order a DXA Scan. This diagnostic test is recommended for all women over the age of 65 and all men over the age of 70. If you are younger and have any of the possible “risk factors” already spoken about, the test may be ordered at a younger age. The test itself takes less than 15 minutes and focuses on the lumbar spine and hip bones.

What should I do if I am diagnosed with Osteoporos?

First and foremost, contact a Physical Therapist (PT) who has specialized in OP because there is a lot to learn about the condition. Gone are the days of bending over at the waist! That is how a vertebral compression fracture can occur. Gone are the days of standing and twisting, that is a good way to compromise not only the vertebra but also the hip. You need to learn safe body mechanics with activities of daily living and how to improve the strength of your bones. There is a way to improve your score on a DXA Scan but it is through resistance and balance training with a skilled PT.

Secondly, you need to either modify your diet to include calcium-rich foods and avoid foods that actually can remove the body’s calcium. Examples of good bone foods include, but are not limited to, dairy products, green leafy vegetables and certain seafood. Examples of food that are bad for bone health include processed meats, canned soups and caffeine. It would not be a bad idea to consult an nutritionalist who also specializes in OP.

You are not on your own. There are specialists who are eager to educate and help you navigate this new condition. You can prevent fractures and your bones from getting worse with physical therapy. PT’s like Dr. Jennifer Rice with Made New PT are certified by the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation and most insurances will cover PT services.

Information / Citing:

Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (bonehealthandosteoporosis.org)
Google definition of Osteoporosis
International Osteoporosis Foundation (internationalosteoporosisfoundation-facts-statics)
Oswald, Khaled, 2017, Gender Disparities in Osteoporosis, Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, April 1:9(5):382-387.

20.10.2025

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