Mega Doctor News
CLEVELAND CLINIC – More than 50 million people here in the United States have osteoporosis, which is a condition that weakens bones and puts a person at risk for injury.
The good news is that it is largely preventable.
“Once you’ve sustained a fracture related to osteoporosis, your chances of having a second one are ten times higher. Even with all the advances of medications that we have these days, it’sreally hard to reverse the process,” said Deborah Benzil, MD, neurosurgeon at Cleveland Clinic. “You can stabilize it and get a little bit of the bone strength back, but prevention really is the key in this disease.”
Dr. Benzil said when it comes to preventing osteoporosis, exercise plays a big role.
It doesn’t have to be anything too major.
There are plenty of activities you can do this summer to stay active and help with bone strength.
Some ideas include gardening, going for a walk, playing catch with your kids or grandkids, swimming, or even walking in the pool.
You could also walk up and down the aisles at the grocery store or do some laps at the mall.
“With osteoporosis, the exercises that we need are what we call weight-bearing exercises, so while it’s great to do exercises when you’re on your back or sitting in a chair, they can build strength, but they’re not going to be helping with bone health and bone strength,” she said. “What we really need to do are things where you are actually creating a little bit of trauma, a little bit of pressure on your legs so that you can promote bone strength.”
Dr. Benzil said if you are concerned about your risk for osteoporosis, it’s best to consult with your physician. There is a test available to check your bone density.
