An eye on osteoporosis

By Zöe Manderson

Osteoporosis, translated as 'porous bone', is a medical condition affecting your bones.

People with osteoporosis have bones that are weaker and more likely to get broken (fractured). Often, they don’t know they have the condition until they have a knock or fall that results in a break.

Wrist, hip and spine bones are most commonly affected. Spinal fractures cause the bones in the spine to get squashed (rather than break apart). They are less obvious than other fractures and can result in pain, loss of height and a more curved spine.

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are more likely to develop osteoporosis. This is because some of the risk factors for osteoporosis can also be associated with COPD. Things like smoking, low body weight, older age, physical inactivity, prednisone use, and inflammation.

If you have COPD, it is useful to be aware of osteoporosis and consider talking to you GP about osteoporosis screening.

Osteoporosis New Zealand and the Royal Osteoporosis Society are two organisations with useful information about osteoporosis. Both of their websites also have a simple online screening tool, which you can use to check your own bone health.

The Royal Osteoporosis Society promote “strong, steady and straight” physical activity and exercise for people with osteoporosis.

“Strong” exercises are designed to build bone and muscle strength. They include weight-bearing activities like walking, jogging and dancing along with resistance exercises using weights, resistance bands or body weight.

“Steady” exercises aim to improve balance and reduce the risk of falls. Anything that challenges your balance can be useful or specific activities like yoga and Tai Chi.

“Straight” exercises involve back muscle strengthening to reduce pain and improve posture. Swimming and

Pilates are good activities, as well as learning techniques for safe lifting and bending.

Check out their websites for more details on this programme.

The main thing to remember is that physical activity is an important part of osteoporosis treatment and should not be avoided.

About the author

Zöe Manderson is a respiratory physiotherapist in Taranaki for Te Whatu Ora and a member of the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ's Scientific Advisory Board