Osteoporosis (literally "porous bones") is a disease characterized by a loss of bone density and an increased risk of fractures. It is a silent disease that you do not know you have until you are diagnosed via bone densiometry or you have a bone fracture.

Who gets osteoporosis? In the United States, 25 million people have osteoporosis, affecting 50% of women over 50 and one of eight men over 50.

Risk Factors:
Risk factors beyond one's control include: 

  • Short stature
  • Small/thin build
  • Caucasian or Asian background
  • Aging
  • Thyroid disorders
  • Loss of estrogen after menopause
  • Family history
  • Female gender
  • Early menopause (before age 40)
Additional risk factors which can be controlled or avoided include:
  • Cigarette smoking
  • Chronic alcohol abuse
  • Poor diet
  • Physical inactivity
  • Chronic steroid use
  • Anorexia
  • No pregnancies (pregnancy increases estrogen)

Bone is a living tissue and is in a constant state of tearing down and building up. In children, bone becomes denser and peaks at about age 30. After age 35, bone is lost faster than it is replaced. On average, we lose .3%-.5% per year. Decreased estrogen with menopause causes bone to dissolve at an even faster rate. Appropriate diet and calcium intake, exercise, and hormone replacement therapy can produce higher peak bone mass in younger women and a less rapid decline in bone mass in postmenopausal women.

Physical Therapy plays a critical role in the prevention and management of osteoporosis. Even with adequate calcium intake, bone will not form without mechanical stresses, such as weight bearing exercise. Exercise provides a selective load or resistance to bone that can result in an increased bone mass up to 1-10% per year. Research shows that bone density can be increased up to the ninth decade of life.

Select Physical Therapy's physical therapists are trained and have experience working with individuals diagnosed with osteopenia ("pre-osteoporosis" or low bone mass) as well as osteoporosis. Not only can a therapist help develop an individualized exercise program appropriate for you, but also your therapist can educate you on posture and movement to help prevent a "slumped" spine and fractures. In addition, many women report decreased pain (often back or hip pain) with our program.

Osteoporosis is a preventable disease and not an inevitable consequence of aging, and we would like to help you improve the quality of your life.