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Welcome to the WebMD Osteoporosis Exchange with experts from the National Osteoporosis Foundation who rotate their time here.

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Osteoporosis! Stop it befor stopped u

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or...

Posted by surveywords

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Osteoporosis! Stop it befor stopped u Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or...

Great product for arthritis pain sufferers

For two years, I was suffering with pain in my left arm. In addition, I grew a bone spur on my left foot. The...

Posted by Schnugg10

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Great product for arthritis pain sufferers For two years, I was suffering with pain in my left arm. In addition, I grew a bone spur on my left foot. The...

Reverse osteopenia

For anybody suffering from osteopenia (I just read Gweneth Paltrow has it) please check out site called...

Posted by superglamglam

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1 Reply | ReplyReport This| Share this:Reverse osteopenia For anybody suffering from osteopenia (I just read Gweneth Paltrow has it) please check out site called...

Osteoporosis** There is hope!

I encourage everyone to do their own research. You might begin with researching the research on Gynovite...

Posted by Megahappy

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Osteoporosis** There is hope! I encourage everyone to do their own research. You might begin with researching the research on Gynovite...

shoes

bought many kinds of shoes to help my feet and leg pain. I finally found that Merrell offered the kind of...

Posted by lilyvanilli

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1 Reply | ReplyReport This| Share this:shoes bought many kinds of shoes to help my feet and leg pain. I finally found that Merrell offered the kind of...

Vit. K2

Keep up with the vitamin K2. I started taking it a few years ago and had clinically significant improvement...

Posted by Anon_129009

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Vit. K2 Keep up with the vitamin K2. I started taking it a few years ago and had clinically significant improvement...

Vit. K2

Keep up with the vitamin K2. I started taking it a few years ago and had clinically significant improvement...

Posted by Anon_129009

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Vit. K2 Keep up with the vitamin K2. I started taking it a few years ago and had clinically significant improvement...

NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION

Choosing the Right Shoe

When choosing shoes, there are many things to consider. It is important to look for a shoe...

Posted by Karen Kemmis, PT, DPT, MS

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1 Reply | ReplyReport This| Share this:Choosing the Right Shoe When choosing shoes, there are many things to consider. It is important to look for a shoe...

NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION

Part II - Exercises to Improve Balance*

Yesterday we discussed improving balance to prevent falls that lead to fractures. Exercise is...

Posted by Karen Kemmis, PT, DPT, MS

Yesterday we discussed improving balance to prevent falls that lead to fractures. Exercise is one of the best ways to get better balance.

When you do balance exercises, you should feel a little wobbly but not as if you could lose your balance and fall. If you are unsure, practice with someone who could assist you. If you have had falls, consider working with a physical therapist to get a personalized exercise program which is safe and effective for you.

Static (still) exercises: Before you get started, find a place where you will be safe. You can stand in a corner with your back facing the corner and place a sturdy chair in front of you with your hands near the top of the chairback. Choose an exercise that makes you feel slightly wobbly. Choose the most challenging position that feels safe. Some examples of static exercises are (in order of increasing difficulty):

1. Stand with your feet tight next to each other

2. Standing with one foot in front and to the side of the other (the inside of you heel touching the side of your big toe)

3. Stand with one foot in front of the other as if on a tightrope

4. Stand on one leg with the other foot lifted off the ground

5. Stand in one of the positions where you are stable but close your eyes. Be extremely careful if you do this.

Try to stay in the position for 30 seconds. For positions 2 through 5, switch feet so the right and left legs have equal exercise.

Dynamic (moving) exercises: It is important to be able to move well in a variety of situations. During a normal day, we move on smooth and uneven surfaces, need to look to the right and left and up and down, step up and down on stairs and curbs, and perform many other body movements. You should practice various movements in a safe situation to improve your ability to move through your day.

For dynamic exercises, you can be in the corner or moving along a counter or in a narrow hallway with your hands near the surface in case you start to lose your balance. Some examples of dynamic exercises are:

1. Stand in a stable position from the list above and then turn your head from right to left or up and down.

2. Stand in a stable position and reach to the ceiling, to the right, to the left.

3. Walk down the hall heel to toe as if on a tightrope

4. Walk down a hall on your toes, then on your heels

5. Walk down a hall looking from right to left

6. Walk down the hall looking up then down

7. Walk sideways along a counter, touching for assist only as needed for safety

8. Walk along the counter crossing one foot in front of the other, behind the other, alternating in front and then in back. Be extremely careful if you do this.

For any of the exercises above, you can increase the challenge by moving from hard-soled shoes to barefoot to soft-soles shoes or by moving from a smooth floor (wood or linoleum) to a carpeted floor to a softer surface (pillow, foam cushion or balance disc).

*Before you start any exercise program, consult with your healthcare provider.View Thread

Posted by Karen Kemmis, PT, DPT, MS

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Part II - Exercises to Improve Balance* Yesterday we discussed improving balance to prevent falls that lead to fractures. Exercise is...

NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION

Part I: Prevent Falls, Prevent Fractures

Do you ever feel wobbly, unsure of your next step? Have you fallen? Most fractures (broken...

Posted by Karen Kemmis, PT, DPT, MS

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Part I: Prevent Falls, Prevent Fractures Do you ever feel wobbly, unsure of your next step? Have you fallen? Most fractures (broken...

NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION

Celebrate National Osteoporosis Month

Celebrate National Osteoporosis Month! NOF's Generations of Strength Campaign encourages...

Posted by Susan Randall, RN, FNP-BC, MSN

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Celebrate National Osteoporosis Month Celebrate National Osteoporosis Month! NOF's Generations of Strength Campaign encourages...

Myer's cocktail

I have been diagnosed with Osteniopenia,osteoarthritis,brittle bones,you name it.I also have a...

Posted by BlackCatSputnick

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1 Reply | ReplyReport This| Share this:Myer's cocktail I have been diagnosed with Osteniopenia,osteoarthritis,brittle bones,you name it.I also have a...

Take 3 Important Steps After a Diagnosis of Osteop...

Moving Away from Fear Unfortunately the most common reaction to a diagnosis of osteoporosis or...

Posted by sequoiahealth

Moving Away from Fear
Unfortunately the most common reaction to a diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia is panic, fear and a rush to take a pill. This is partly due to the strong insistence by most physicians in wanting their patients to start medications "right away." This rush to medication is accompanied by phrases such as "your spine is so bad it will break in half" or "you have the bones of an 90 year old" which make it difficult to say no.

Lifestyle is King
It is important to know that osteoporosis or osteopenia are heavily influenced by your lifestyle habits. Your exercise program, the foods you choose to eat, the supplements that you take and your stress levels all impact the health of your bones. Instead of rushing to medication, after you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia, (you can take medication any time along the way) I recommend considering three important steps before doing anything else:

1. Start a Personal Health Journal
Documenting and organizing your current health and fitness habits is a valuable tool not only for you but any other health or fitness professional that reviews your case. It will first help you take stock of your current lifestyle habits and then track various lifestyle changes along the way.

Journaling is an excellent way to begin stopping and reversing your bone health problems. Your bones respond favorable to safe and effective exercises, improved eating habits, better sleep patterns and stress reduction activities. Osteoporosis medications (if you decide to take them) work best with lifestyle changes so changing your lifestyle first makes more sense.

2. Determine Your Risk for Fracture
After a diagnosis of osteoporosis or osteopenia, the most important fact to know is what is my risk of sustaining a fracture. Reducing your risk of fractures is going to be your sole mission and much more important than increasing bone density. So one of the most important pieces of information to focus on is not your bone density scores but your FRAX percentages.

The FRAX Index calculates your risk of hip fracture. Bone density or BMD are the numbers your doctor gave you after your DEXA scan. BMD is only ONE risk factor of 12 that are important in determining your fracture risk. Go to http://www.shef.ac.uk/FRAX/ for more information.

3. Create a Professional Bone Health Improvement Plan
So many times I see bone health programs that consist of an odd collection of what people have read on the web or seen on television. These programs are usually missing key components and have not been reviewed by a knowledgeable professional or customized to meet individual needs. Having good bone health program goes beyond just improving bone density. Your bones respond to many different changes in your life. The foods you eat, the water you drink, your sleep patterns and exercise activities can all benefit your bone health.

I hope these 3 steps help take some of the mystery and fear out of your osteoporosis or osteopenia diagnosis.View Thread

Posted by sequoiahealth

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4 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Take 3 Important Steps After a Diagnosis of Osteoporosis or Osteopenia Moving Away from Fear Unfortunately the most common reaction to a diagnosis of osteoporosis or...

NATIONAL OSTEOPOROSIS FOUNDATION

Weighted Vests

Many people ask about wearing a weighted vest as a part of a bone healthy exercise...

Posted by Susan Randall, RN, FNP-BC, MSN

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For of those interested you might check out

" Congenital radio-ulnar synostosis" Google it and realize we are not alone.

Posted by repro54

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:For of those interested you might check out " Congenital radio-ulnar synostosis" Google it and realize we are not alone.

Lazylady

My daughter was on the same medication and if anyone was going to get a side effect from any medicaiton, it...

Posted by diperri

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0 Replies | ReplyReport This| Share this:Lazylady My daughter was on the same medication and if anyone was going to get a side effect from any medicaiton, it...

Please read...

Please do not panic! Read: THE MYTH OF OSTEOPOROSIS by Gillian Sanson. Google Gillian...

Posted by An_223928

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Reverse osteopenia

For anybody suffering from osteopenia (I just read Gweneth Paltrow has it) please check out site called reversemyosteopenia This site has ... More

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