We have seen an uptick in women with osteoporosis and osteoporosis-related spinal conditions in the clinic lately. It seems as though an alarming number of women 50+ are checking the box for osteoporosis/ osteopenia…enough so, that it made me do a little investigating, and the facts I found were shocking!

I found that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 30% of post-menopausal women in the U.S. have osteoporosis and more than 50% have osteopenia! I also went on to read that the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation found that 50% of women over the age of 50 will break a bone from osteoporosis.

Let’s back up for just a moment and clear up the difference between osteoporosis and osteopenia. Osteoporosis attacks the cortical bone (hard outer shell of the bone) and spongy bone (inner matrix of boney connections) making it brittle, weak and susceptible to fractures. On the other hand, osteopenia is a “softening” of the bone, but may never actually lead to osteoporosis.

Risk factors for developing osteoporosis include: if you are a smoker or consume excessive amounts of alcohol or caffeine, a post-menopausal woman (due to the drop in estrogen), have hyperthyroid, don’t get enough calcium, have a history of GI surgery (because you cannot absorb the necessary minerals), have a history of long-term use of corticosteroids, have a sedentary lifestyle, and many more.

Osteoporosis is considered a “silent disease” because of the slow, painless progression. Many people don’t know they are affected until a fracture takes place, so it’s important to have your bone density checked at least every two years once you turn 65, especially for women.

While there is a wide array of drug options available to treat osteoporosis like Fosamax and Actonel, if you go this route, you must contend with the long list of side effects. (nausea, heart burn, diarrhea, muscle or bone pain, hives, chest pain, to name a few) There is also hormone-related therapy, but that can unfortunately lead to breast cancer or blood clots.

Exercise therapy, on the other hand, comes without any side effects and can also increase your bone density. Specific exercise considerations to manage osteoporosis should include resistance training, balance training, low impact loading and aerobic exercise. This isn’t to say you should do one without the other; only that you carefully consider your options when consulting with your physician.

High impact activities are often discouraged in people with osteoporosis due to the vulnerability of the bones. This makes Pilates an amazing option for anyone with osteoporosis looking for natural ways to address their condition. Through careful guidance, you can develop strength in safe, low-impact ways.