Osteopenia – weakening of your bones – What is it and how do I prevent it?

As we age, our risk of osteopenia increases. Osteopenia is a loss of bone mineral density. This bone density loss makes our bones weaker and is a precursor to osteoporosis. The loss of bone strength begins much earlier if we don’t look after our bodies today. Maintaining good habits now can be very protective for your bones in the future.

One of the best things you can do for your bones is to do exercises. This ‘weight’ can just be your own body weight as you go walking, hiking or swimming, but using weights and strengthening exercises are also very beneficial in the treatment of osteopenia.  Your bones respond to the stress put upon them with regular exercise, which increases their density. You need to keep up at least 30 minutes per day.

City Physiotherapy Physiotherapists can help design an exercise program for you that loads your bones in the right way to assist in building up their strength. Osteopenia is a condition to take seriously as leaving it untreated will lead to osteoporosis developing in the future. Osteoporosis is much harder to treat and leaves you at risk of easily developing bone fractures as you age, especially if you have received an impact such as a fall.

Vitamin D intake is key to bone health too, as vitamin D is required to absorb calcium into your bones. So get outside in the sunshine for at least a portion of that exercise.

Your diet should also contain vitamin and mineral rich foods. You are what you eat, so eating foods high in calcium, magnesium, vitamin D and C are essential for maintaining healthy bones.

BACK TO BLOG