Exercise Prevents Osteoporosis Essay

Building denser bones is extremely important for the elderly and especially elderly women. Osteoporosis is the gradual thinning of bone mass and bone density (“Osteoporosis”). Osteoporosis is a very common disease amongst women and it is estimated that approximately 1 out of 5 women in the United States of America over the age of 50 years have Osteoporosis (“Osteoporosis”). At least half of all women over 50 will fracture a major bone such as a hip, spine, arm, or wrist (“Osteoperosis”). Osteoporosis is a very painful, debilitating, and even fatal disease that can be prevented through good diet and most importantly physical activity such as weightlifting. Studies have shown that the risk of Osteoporosis is lower for people who are more active and especially for those who participate in activities such as weightlifting (“Bone Builders”). The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research conducted a study measuring the bone density of athletes and all of the athletes on average had 13% higher bone density than non-athletes; the highest being in athletes who

Osteoporosis is a bone disease that occurs when the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both. As a result, bones become weak and may break from a fall or, in serious cases, from sneezing or minor bumps (nof.org). This skeletal disease is characterized by the increase in the fragility of bones as a result of reduced bone mass density and the deformation of the structure of bone tissue (Angin,Erden,Can, 849). Many patients with osteoporosis are instructed by their doctor to exercise; as this will improve their rehabilitation of this disease and lessen the pain associated with it.

Of late, there has been renewed interest in the influence of acid-base balance on bone metabolism and the development of osteoporosis. The acid-ash hypothesis suggests that diets that are high in "acid-ash"(i.e. acid-forming) components(including dietary protein, phosphorus, and chlorine) and low in base-forming components(including fruits and vegetables, potassium, and calcium) generate acidic byproducts. To neutralize excess acid and prevent systemic acidosis, bone mineral is dissolved, bicarbonate is released, and calcium is expelled in urine, accelerating the development of osteoporosis. The "alkaline diet" encourages the consumption of base-forming foods and has been promoted as an effective method of reducing the risk of osteoporosis (WebMD 2013).

Osteoporosis is a major public health concern that greatly affects the elderly population. Osteoporosis is typically diagnosed and most prevalent in the older population due to the natural aging process. As one ages, bone integrity begins to decline and can influence many aspects of one’s life. As the prevalence continues to increase, focus is placed not only on treatment methods for those diagnosed, but also early prevention methods for those at an early age.1 These treatment and prevention methods of osteoporosis, specifically exercise testing and prescription, will be continue to be discussed in more detail, as well as the scope, pathophysiology, clinical considerations, and recent topics in research.

A disease of long duration is a chronic disease. Osteoporosis is considered chronic and this paper will discuss what it means, what the risk factors and who is affected, this paper will address the symptoms to look out for and when to go to the doctor. Nutrition and what proper exercise can do to help prevent or slow down the progression caused by osteoporosis, and then the paper will list prevention and treatment options. May is osteoporosis month and this encourages free screenings for those who may have chances for osteoporosis!

The interrelated factors of the female athlete triad are energy availability, menstrual function, and bone mineral density each of which develops along a continuum. Each factor may progress to a point where it is a clinical condition such as an eating disorder. The three factors may be present together and have developed in sequence, low energy availability due to low energy (caloric) intake and high energy expenditure leads to amenorrhea that leads to osteoporosis, although each of these conditions can occur independently of the others. Whether alone or in combination with each other, when energy availability, menstrual function, and bone mineral density are comprimised they represent substantial health risks for the female athlete. Low

The older population are more at risk of osteoporosis because bones naturally become thinner as we got older. Post-menopausal women are particularly at risk of osteoporosis because of the decrease in the female hormone, estrogen. Those with higher salt intakes are increasing the amount of bone demineralisation that takes place. Studies have also demonstrated that there is a correlation between salt intake and calcium excretion in young and adolescent girls. It has been suggested that this may result in a reduced peak bone mass, which would increase the risk of osteoporosis later in life. Consuming a low salt diet during adolescent years may therefore be important, to reduce the risk of osteoporosis later in life.

396). When blood calcium needs to be replenished, the trabecular bone gives up minerals. The loss of trabecular bone is significantly apparent in men and women in their 30s. However, the trabecular bone can start to desintegrate whenever calcium withdrawals exceed deposits. Furthermore, cortical bone also gives up calcium, however this occurs at a slower and steadier pace. The cortical bone begins to give up ususally around someone in their 40s. Therefore, as bone loss continues, bone density begins to decline, which causes osteoporosis to become apparent. For instance, "Bones become so fragil that even the body's own weight can overburden the spine - vertebrae may suddenly disintegrate and crush down, painfully pinching major nerves" (Whitney & Rolfes, 2013, p. 396). Nonmodifiable risk factors for osteoporosis tend to occur in the older age, female gender, smaller frame Caucasian, Asian, or Hispanic/Latino. In addition, it occurs in people with family history of osteoporosis or fractures. However, modifiable risk factors include, sedentary lifestyle, diet inadequare in clacium and vitamin D, diet excessive in protein, sodium, caffeine, cigarrette smoking, alcohole abuse and low

Osteoporosis is commonly known around the world as the numbers continue to increase every year. Osteoporosis is known to cause problems in middle aged women and occasionally effecting some men (1), currently reaching the number of 200million women diagnosed with osteoporosis (2). Arthritis Organisation states that anyone can get osteoporosis but women are about four times more likely than men to develop it, with two main reasons contributing to this fact. For several years after menopause occurs (ovaries stop producing oestrogen), the process of bone loss speeds up, increasing the chance of being diagnosed with osteoporosis. Yet men generally reach a higher level of bone density before the process of bone loss begins. Although

• Vitamin D deficiency[9] - low circulating Vitamin D is common among the elderly worldwide.[10] Mild vitamin D insufficiency is associated with increased Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) production. [10] PTH increases bone reabsorption, leading to bone loss. A positive association exists between serum 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol levels and bone mineral density, while PTH is negatively associated with bone mineral density.[10]

According to Broe (2007), the elderly have a reduced capacity to metabolize vitamin D as a result of inactivity, diet and organ function. This leads to the reduction of Vitamin D levels in the body. Vitamin D is essential for the bone and muscle strength in the body, and hence its deficiency results in weak bones and muscles. In a review of five trials, Cameron et al. (2010) reported a consistent link between Vitamin D supplements and a decrease in risk of falling among elderly patients (Broe, 2007; Bischoff, 2003; Chapuy, 2002, Flicker et al.,

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become weak and fragile. While reading the controversy on page 328 in our books it was interesting to me how this disease affects people more so by their gene, sex, age, and race. What also popped out to me was how later on in life we cannot make up the calcium we failed to take in our younger years. The amount of Calcium and Vitamin D we take as children affects us all the way into our older age. Of course taking Calcium and Vitamin D at any age is better than not taking any at all, but it does not stop osteoporosis it can only slow it down.

The study involved 168 women who were placed into 4 groups: a placebo group, a group that was given milk powder containing 1g of calcium, a group given calcium tablets 1g/night, and a group given calcium tablets 1g/night and exercise regimen. The group with the exercise went through 4 hours of extra weight-bearing exercise per week. Bone mineral density at the lumbar spine, 3 hip sites, and two different sites of the tibia were measured in 6-month intervals. A food record also evaluated dietary intake. By the end of the study, Prince and his colleagues found that calcium supplementation by either calcium tablets or milk powder resulted in loss of bone mineral density at the hip sites. The group that was given calcium and exercised had less bone loss at the femoral neck site than any other group. Overall, there was significant reduction in the rate of bone loss at ultra distal site of the tibia. This study showed that supplements and exercise helped promote an increase in bone mineral density in order to prevent other health risks

The main stages in bone development are early childhood, puberty, and menopause. “During childhood, liquid crystals of calcium within this cartilage solidify through a process called “mineralization”. For that mineralization to occur and keep occurring throughout childhood, however, it’s vitally important that children get enough exercise, calcium and vitamin D, says Laura Tosi, MD, chief of Orthopedic Surgery. Outside play, once a staple of childhood, has given way to video games and television. And if kids don’t play outside, they often don’t get enough sunlight to make adequate vitamin D. Also, kids are much more likely to drink soda or juice these days than milk, which remains one of the best sources of calcium and vitamin D in early life. In fact, variations in the amount of calcium kids get may account for five to 10 percent difference in adult bone mass and a 50 percent difference in the hip fracture rate later in life. Chalk up that adolescent growth spurt to the fact that the majority of bone is laid down in adolescence. This “speeding up” of bone formation begins around age 11 in girls and 12 or 13 in boys. Unfortunately, this is also the time when girls begin to significantly reduce their calcium intake. In fact, over 80 percent of girls age nine to 19 don’t get the recommended average daily amount of calcium. Adolescent girls are also at greater risk for anorexia and other eating disorders than boys, which can wreak havoc with estrogen levels,

Osteoporosis is described by the NHS as “a condition that weakens bones” and is fairly common, affecting roughly 3 million, with more than 300,000 people receiving treatment each year. Fractures are extremely common as the weakened bones are more susceptible to damage, even coughing may cause vertebral damage. Osteoporosis can be classified as type I or II, “both type I and type II osteoporosis occur through an imbalance between total skeletal bone formation and bone resorption which is sustained over many years” (Theobald, 2005), and are related to a lack of vitamin