An estimated 20 percent of all women over 50 have osteoporosis, according to MedlinePlus. Although the condition is less common in men, up to 25 percent of men 50 and over will experience a broken bone due to osteoporosis. Physical activity plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of this bone disease. While exercise can't cure osteoporosis, it does help maintain bone density and reduce the likelihood of falling.
Identification
Osteoporosis is a wide-reaching form of bone disease. Caused by the body's failure to build new bone mass or the breakdown of established bone mass, osteoporosis is often not diagnosed until a person falls or suffers a bone fracture. By the time a fracture occurs, the disease is usually in the advanced stage, according to MedlinePlus. Although exercise can be an effective treatment for osteoporosis, the Mayo Clinic cautions that your doctor may need to perform bone density and fitness assessments to help you plan the right program.
Exercise Types
Exercises that help reduce you chances of bone fracture associated with osteoporosis include weight-bearing activities such as walking, jogging and tennis, according to MedlinePlus. Resistance exercises using weights or bands can help, as can tai chi, yoga and stationary bicycling. Rowing machines are also an effective option. Low-impact exercises such as walking, tai chi and hand weights reduce the likelihood of falls and fractures during activity.
Benefits
Weight-bearing exercise strengthen muscles, which offers protection for bones. Exercise that improves your balance reduces your chances of falling during everyday activities. Exercise can also help preserve bone density, according to the Mayo Clinic. Other benefits are improved posture, pain management and an improved sense of well-being. Although exercise can make a different in the treatment of osteoporosis at any age, an active lifestyle early in life builds bone mass and offers protection when bone density starts to decline.
Factors
Bone mass peaks during your twenties or early thirties, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. After that, exercise works to maintain bone density. Your body needs calcium, vitamin D and protein to build and maintain bones. Staying active and getting the nutrients your body needs are important for bone health. Your doctor may prescribe medications that help strengthen bones and recommend supplements in addition to calling for regular exercise.
Diagnosis
Although you could have osteoporosis and not know it, there are a few indicators to watch for. Possible symptoms include bone pain, a decrease in height, low back pain, neck pain and stooped posture. Your doctor can check for osteoporosis using a bone mineral density test. Certain factors put you at higher risk for osteoporosis, including a thin build, smoking, calcium deficiency, a family history of osteoporosis or hormone treatment for prostrate or breast cancer, according to MedlinePlus. Osteoporosis is more common in Asian and white women. Women over 50 and men over 70 are at higher risk.
