Osteoporosis/body armor

[mimitabby]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/520577

this one used younger women, a median age of 55


Dec. 28, 2005 — Exercise and calcium supplementation improve bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal women, according to the results of a 4-year study reported in the December issue of Osteoporosis International.

"The good news is these long-term data confirmed the potent combination of improved nutrition and increased physical activity to prevent bone loss," principal investigator Timothy Lohman, PhD, from the University of Arizona in Tucson, said in a news release. "The extended use of calcium supplementation and exercise counteracted the typical loss of BMD in women at this age, in a regimen that women really can stick with. This is quite significant for younger women as well, as these exercises and calcium supplementation can help build peak BMD which may prevent health problems and osteoporosis in the future."

[hellosunshine]

last fri i went and had a scan,im -2.2 in my spine and -2.9 in my hips,which means ive to get a dr appointmaent next week to discuss drugs.........this post has been awesome(yet again).........im also starting the pill to get periods back which should help,and i do do weights and walk a hell of a lot.


my reaction to the bad news was to go home and clean,i mean things like emptying cupboards,having a clear out from under the bed etc etc.

so every cloud has a silver lining!

[ChickWithBrains]

Just remember -- hip guards and padding won't prevent fractures. They'll make your fall hurt a little less, but the force of a fall that will break an osteopenic femur will still break it through the padding. Just like wrist guards for rollerblading -- they don't decrease incidence of fracture, they just prevent palmar road rash and cause the true break to occur further up your arm.

We participate in a non-weight-bearing sport. It doesn't help us maintain our bone density. We need to do weight-bearing exercise as well for maximum bone health (in addition to calcium, vitamin D, folate to keep homocysteine in check, figuring out our hormones and using bisphosphonates like Actonel when appropriate)!

[mimitabby]

Chick
I dont' think most of us are getting hip protectors, this thread has evolved into a help thread for people with Osteoporosis/Osteopenia diagnoses.

I have started lifting weights 3x a week and doing stairs 15+ minutes 5 days a week AND walking a mile a day 5 days a week.
All of this on top of bike riding, you're right, cycling is not weight bearing, but it improves stamina, and makes it easier to do all that other stuff.
oh yeah, and taking vitamins.

[Crankin]

I am taking Evista regularly now, since I have had osteopenia for at least 5 years and I am progressing rapidly toward osteoporosis. I've been post menopause for almost 5 years and I am 53. I tried Fosomax twice and I had the worst side effects: diarrea, intense heartburn,, the works. Been taking calcium/vitaminD for 25 years. I hope something works. Family history is not good for this either.
I need to do weight lifting more regularly. It's the thing that always seems to go when I am short on time. I do hike, walk, snow shoe, but I wish I could run
to get some of that good pounding exercise. That hurts other things! I really want to be able to keep mountain biking, even the wimpy way I do. So far, I've had a couple of road crashes, but no broken bones.
This sucks. I have eaten healthy since I was about 24, and never drank much soda. I do drink coffee and I am hoping that isn't making it worse. It's my only vice.

[mimitabby]

Robyn,
Keep your coffee. But get with the weight bearing program. I don't run either, but I can do stairs with the best of them. (I'm going to be in a competition in a few weeks, 69 flights of stairs!)

I wish I could run, but whenever I try (you know, run 300 feet) my whole body tells me it's not good, and shortly, I stop.

[hellosunshine]

well,ive been on the pill for 2 months now for my bones,wonder whats going on inside-if only we could look!!oddly i dont think its given me bigger tits,i got no spots and i bled for a mere second,no kidding,HOW DULL.


i drip milk into me,love it,i work upstairs at home so run up and down them constantly,BUT did wonder after a previous reply should i do a conscious 15 mins of up and down as an exercise????walk the dog.im afraid im a bit 2 fingers to running


gave up fizzy drinks 9 months ago and no regrets,infact my halo shines and aspertame,a harder thing to kick but all possible and very worthwhile,my place is secure in heaven-if only!


my vice is tea,but there again im am british and most things are solved over a cuppa