How to exercise with osteoporosis

Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
Updated on September 13, 2024
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How should people with osteoporosis exercise? Many patients with osteoporosis believe that exercising could lead to fractures. In fact, by exercising, muscles can develop more fully, which not only protects the bones but also indirectly provides better support for bone metabolism. As long as scientific exercise methods are used and accidents and injuries are avoided, fractures will not occur. The following exercises are very suitable for osteoporosis patients to practice regularly. The first type is Tai Chi. Tai Chi can be considered a national treasure of China. It is a slow and elegant exercise that emphasizes coordination of the body and mind, and has functions that strengthen bones. Tai Chi can slow the rate of bone loss. The second type is Yoga. Research has found that women who regularly practice yoga have significant increases in spinal bone density. This slow and delicate exercise can increase the bone density in the hips, spine, and wrists. However, patients with osteoporosis should exercise within their limits. Excessive exercise or improper physical activity can be a burden on the patient's body and may cause adverse consequences. It is recommended to consult a doctor and choose an appropriate exercise method.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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What to do with osteoporosis?

When osteoporosis occurs, it is first important to determine the cause of the osteoporosis, whether it's due to postmenopausal women, overuse injuries, or osteoporosis caused by long periods of immobilization following trauma. If such osteoporosis occurs, it is advisable to appropriately supplement with calcium and vitamin D, especially for postmenopausal women and elderly individuals affected by degenerative changes. These supplements can be taken orally, and appropriate physical exercise can be incorporated to increase bone strength and achieve recovery. In cases of disuse osteoporosis, appropriate functional exercises should be performed to allow for active muscle contractions and slight weight-bearing by the bones, which promotes circulation around the bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?

The main symptom of osteoporosis is pain, including pain in the limbs, spine, and pelvic area. Sometimes, the pain may worsen during activities such as walking. Even light activities like climbing stairs, hiking, or even sneezing can cause fractures due to osteoporosis, leading to increased pain.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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Differences between bone hyperplasia and osteoporosis

Bone hyperplasia and osteoporosis are quite different. Firstly, bone hyperplasia occurs due to long-term stress and degeneration of joints, including the lumbar spine, causing the bones around the joints to harden and proliferate, forming bone spurs. On the other hand, osteoporosis mainly results from decalcification and calcium deficiency, leading to weakened or porous bones. These bones are brittle and can easily fracture under trauma. As for the treatment of these two diseases, conservative treatment is mainly used for bone hyperplasia, such as acupuncture, physiotherapy, massage, oral blood-activating and pain-relieving medications, to alleviate local symptoms. Treatment for osteoporosis primarily involves oral medications, such as calcium supplements and vitamin D3, along with exposure to sunlight. Of course, some patients suffer from osteoporosis due to long-term disuse, as seen in patients with hemiplegia who are unable to walk for extended periods, leading to disuse osteoporosis. These patients also need to strengthen their routine functional exercises, such as undergoing suitable rehabilitation to enhance bone strength. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
1min 23sec home-news-image

How to exercise with osteoporosis

How should people with osteoporosis exercise? Many patients with osteoporosis believe that exercising could lead to fractures. In fact, by exercising, muscles can develop more fully, which not only protects the bones but also indirectly provides better support for bone metabolism. As long as scientific exercise methods are used and accidents and injuries are avoided, fractures will not occur. The following exercises are very suitable for osteoporosis patients to practice regularly. The first type is Tai Chi. Tai Chi can be considered a national treasure of China. It is a slow and elegant exercise that emphasizes coordination of the body and mind, and has functions that strengthen bones. Tai Chi can slow the rate of bone loss. The second type is Yoga. Research has found that women who regularly practice yoga have significant increases in spinal bone density. This slow and delicate exercise can increase the bone density in the hips, spine, and wrists. However, patients with osteoporosis should exercise within their limits. Excessive exercise or improper physical activity can be a burden on the patient's body and may cause adverse consequences. It is recommended to consult a doctor and choose an appropriate exercise method.

doctor image
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Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
1min 36sec home-news-image

How to check for osteoporosis?

How is osteoporosis diagnosed? There are several methods currently used for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. One method is X-ray examination, which usually only detects severe cases of osteoporosis and also depends on the amount of radiation used, making it seldom used in clinical settings. Another method is ultrasound testing, referred to as ultrasound bone density testing. It typically examines areas like the heel or the wrist. However, ultrasound bone density can have significant inaccuracies, so it is used more as a screening tool rather than for precise diagnosis. The third method is a bone density scanner. This is currently the simplest and most effective method to diagnose osteoporosis. It involves measuring the Relative Vertebral Density (RVD), where a normal value of 1 indicates that the vertebral body density is higher than that of the intervertebral disc. An RVD value of 0 indicates that the vertebral body density is the same as the intervertebral disc density, which signifies osteoporosis. If the RVD is less than 0, it shows that the vertebral body density is less than that of the intervertebral disc, pointing to severe osteoporosis. The bone density scanning method is very straightforward. The patient simply places a foot or arm inside the machine, and the computer quickly provides the bone density measurement, which is more accurate and cost-effective compared to other diagnostic methods.