Osteoporosis is one of the world's most common chronic diseases. It affects one-third of all women over age 50 thereby making it more common than breast cancer. One in five men also are sufferers, making it more common than prostate cancer.
A new report released by the International Osteoporosis Foundation examines some of the causes behind osteoporosis, and offers several suggestions for people of all ages on how to avoid the condition later in life.
The report, entitled "Move It or Lose It", was published to commemorate World Osteoporosis Day. Among the report's highlights it was revealed that exercise appears to be the key to increasing (or retaining) bone mass, which is the key to avoiding this disease.
Girls
A study in Finland found the most physically active young girls gain about 40 percent more bone mass than girls who are least physically active. In girls it is found the amount of bone tissue accumulated between the ages of 11 and 13 equates to almost the same amount of bone tissue lost in the next 30 years following menopause.
Post Menopausal Women
A study was conducted on postmenopausal women who used small weights to strengthen their back muscles for approximately two years. At a 10-year follow-up, women who exercised had stronger back muscles than those who did not exercise. Perhaps most importantly, they had reduced the chance of getting a fracture by approximately 300 percent.
Elderly
Exercise also greatly reduces the risk of falls in the elderly, an important statistic considering that each year, approximately 40 percent of people over 65 suffer at least one fall. Individually tailored exercise programs and group exercises such as Tai Chi appear to be the most effective in reducing the incidence of falls and fall-related injuries.
Dr. Hooper Comment:
I strongly recommend the benefits of regular exercise, and I am not talking about walking around the home or lifting some timber on a work site. You have to be more proactive than that! The body quickly adapts to the stresses we put on it each day. So even if you are quite active you need to look at new ways to challenge yourself with regard to physical activity.
If you are considering an exercise program be sure to do it in conjuction with Chiropractic Care. If you drive a car with a wheel alignment problem you chew out the tyres. If you are exercising without regular Chiropractic Care you will more than likely "chew out" the discs in your lower back (spinal decay) or develop issues in the hips or knees.
Of course diet and exercise go hand in hand, so you need to consider Dr. Hooper's Wellness Protocol to get the maximum benefit from your execise to prevent Osteoporotic changes.
