Osteopenia and osteoporosis, can occur from aging, from lack of activity, or from taking certain medications. It is estimated that up to 300,000 people in Ireland have osteoporosis.
The bones in your skeleton have a dense, smooth outer surface called compact bone. Compact bone is heavy and rigid, providing your body with a framework, protection, and a place for muscles to attach.
Beneath compact bone is spongy bone, which is less dense and has many small holes like a sponge. It is where blood cells are produced and minerals such as calcium are stored.
Bone is a living tissue that is constantly being reshaped in a process called remodeling. This process involves bone cells called osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Osteoclasts break down and absorb old bone, while osteoblasts make and lay down new bone.
Weight-bearing activity and exercise help stimulate bone formation. Healthy bone is dense enough to support and protect the body. When the creation of new bone doesn’t keep up with the removal of old bone,osteopenia/ osteoporosis can occur.
Those with osteoporosis have abnormally thin bones, with larger holes in the spongy bone. This makes them more at risk of a fracture.
Symptoms of osteoporosis may include pain in the back, hip, or wrist; a loss of height or stooped posture; or an unexpected fracture.
While exercise is needed to maintain bone health, with osteoporosis it is important to do the right kind of exercises.
At Swords Physiotherapy our Experienced physiotherpists can instruct you in the correct kind of exercise therapy to keep you safe, as well as help ease any discomfort related to the condition.
We offer individual consultations where we assess posture, movement and balance and prescribe individualised physiotherapy treatment pathways. We also run group ” Strong Bones ” exercise classes which are very popular and a great way of helping to manage this condition.
