One of the top 5 conditions I see people for in my current job here at Carespace is Osteoporosis. Many people I talk to are surprised that they have it. In this blog – I will explain why people get it despite being active…
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis (osteo = bone and porosis = porous (full of holes)) is a condition where you have less bone density. This can make you likely to fracture or break a bone. Osteoporosis is not be confused with osteoarthritis.
What causes it?
Bone density is something that we naturally lose as we get older. If you did not have a high enough bone density when you were younger and it decreases as you get older – then you may have a bone density low enough to get diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is diagnosed by having a bone density that is a certain amount below that of healthy and young people. To know if you have osteoporosis, schedule and appointment with a practitioner to learn more.
I was surprised that I was diagnosed with osteoporosis? I’ve been active my whole life!
To build bone you need to put (slightly) more stress on the bone than it’s used to in order to make bone stronger, just like with building muscle.
Activities such as walking, cycling, and swimming are fantastic activities for cardiovascular health and mental health – however they don’t stimulate or stress bones enough to make them bigger and stronger. In fact – even competitive cyclists and swimmers have low bone densities (1-3).
Working with a Registered Physiotherapist, Registered Kinesiologist, or Personal Trainer who has specific training in that population can help you improve your bone density.
References
Abrahin O, Rodrigues RP, Marçal AC, Alves EA, Figueiredo RC, de Sousa EC. Swimming and cycling do not cause positive effects on bone mineral density: a systematic review. Rev Bras Reumatol Engl Ed. 2016 Jul-Aug;56(4):345-51. English, Portuguese. doi: 10.1016/j.rbre.2016.02.013. Epub 2016 Mar 11. PMID: 27476628.
Scofield, Kirk L. MD, CAQ1,2; Hecht, Suzanne MD, CAQ, CCD1. Bone Health in Endurance Athletes: Runners, Cyclists, and Swimmers. Current Sports Medicine Reports 11(6):p 328-334, November/December 2012. | DOI: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e3182779193
