Physical Therapy For Osteopenia

Your risk of experiencing a broken bone increases as you age.

In fact, a 2014 study by Coughlan and Dockery found that approximately 50% of women and 20% of men over the age of 50 experience at least one bone break or fracture.

Osteoporosis plays a major role in this statistic.

You’ve probably heard about osteoporosis before, and about how physical therapy can help with osteoporosis.

However, you may not know that physical therapy can provide a variety of solutions that’ll help prevent the development of osteoporosis in the first place.

This is especially true if you have, or are at risk of, osteopenia.

Physical therapy for orthopedic conditions can help with osteoporosis, as well as osteopenia.

At Capitol Physical Therapy we can help.

Our wellness programs can help ensure that you stay in tiptop shape as you age.

In this article, we’re taking a closer look at osteopenia and the role physical therapy can play in treating it.

What Does Having Osteopenia Mean?

Osteopenia causes the loss of your bone density.

Some people think of their bones as solid objects.

However, they’re actually porous.

This means that they have tiny holes all throughout their structure.

That’s true for everybody, and it’s not cause for concern.

But your bone density is a different story.

Aging can cause you to lose density in your bones.

This can increase your risk of fractures from everyday activities, or from regular slip and fall accidents.

RELATED: Physical Therapy For Sports & Running Injuries

At Capitol Physical Therapy, we can use a DEXA bone scan to measure your bone density.

Our clients with osteopenia typically have lower bone mineral density than normal.

Additionally, osteopenia increases your risk of developing further complications, such as osteoporosis.

This risk increases without adequate intervention, such as physical therapy.

You can compare the relationship between osteopenia and osteoporosis with that of insulin resistance and diabetes.

Left untreated, people with insulin resistance are more likely to develop diabetes and other related complications.

RELATED: Physical Therapy Treatments For Diabetes.

Fortunately, your physical therapist can help manage your symptoms of osteopenia and lower your risk of developing osteoporosis.

What Are The Symptoms Of Osteopenia?

Osteopenia doesn’t typically cause any specific symptoms.

Instead, your physician will likely screen for it at your annual medical checkup.

Losing bone density doesn’t cause any or anything else that’s easily identifiable as a symptom.

If you’re concerned you might have osteopenia, a physical therapist can test your bone density to examine whether it’s lower than usual.

We typically recommend bone density testing for women aged 65 or older.

RELATED: Physical Therapy For Seniors Health

Some women younger than 65 are also at a greater risk for developing the condition, such as women who:

• Are postmenopausal
• Have broken a bone in the past
• Have a history of chronic alcohol or tobacco use
• Have a history of eating disorders

RELATED: Physical Therapy For Women’s Health

Physical therapy for men’s health can help with osteopenia as well, but it’s far more common in women.

Despite the lack of symptoms, there are some subtle signs you can look out for as you age.

If you lose more than one and a half inches of height as you age, it may indicate spinal issues – in particular, that your spine is shrinking.

If your upper back begins rounding and pushing your head forward, also known as kyphosis, it can indicate your spinal bones are changing shape due to bone density loss.

RELATED: Physical Therapy For Back And Neck Pain

If you’ve broken a bone from normal activity, like vacuuming, or from something with very little impact, like falling from standing height, you might have bone density loss.

What Causes Osteopenia?

There are a few risk factors that can contribute to the development of osteopenia.

The most common risk factor is aging.

According to Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, 54% of postmenopausal women in the US have osteopenia.

Your bone mass peaks at age 35 before your body begins breaking down old bone faster than it builds new bone.

This process means you may lose some bone density.

Women also lose bone density as they age faster than men do due to low estrogen levels after menopause.

RELATED: Physical Therapy For Low Libido During Menopause

Other risk factors include:

• Being older than 50
• Family history of low bone mineral density
• Removal of ovaries before menopause
• A diet low in calcium and vitamin D
• Menopause before the age of 45
• Smoking or using other types of tobacco
• Not getting enough exercise
• Drinking too much caffeine or alcohol

There are also some conditions that can increase your risk of osteopenia, such as:

• Bulimia
• Anorexia
• Hyperthyroidism
• Cushing’s syndrome
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Inflammatory diseases like lupus, Crohn’s disease, or rheumatoid arthritis

Does Osteopenia Always Turn Into Osteoporosis?

One of the most frequently asked questions about osteoporosis is whether osteopenia always turns into osteoporosis.

It’s important to know that a diagnosis of osteopenia doesn’t always progress to osteoporosis.

Getting diagnosed with osteopenia can actually give you a good opportunity to take better care of your bone health and prevent developing osteoporosis.

This is something a physical therapist can help with by guiding you in exercises and lifestyle changes that can decrease your risk.

You may also want to consult with a dietician or nutritionist to see if changes in your diet can improve mineral absorption necessary for strong bones.

People with osteopenia who don’t take care of their bones are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis.

Fortunately, a physical therapist can show you many ways that can help decrease this risk.

How Can Physical Therapy Help With Osteopenia?

Your physical therapist will create a personalized treatment plan for you that takes into account your lifestyle, needs, and goals.

They’ll consider any other physical issues or conditions you may have as well.

As you progress through physical therapy, your physical therapist can alter your program by adding exercises to help your bones grow stronger.

Typically, exercise will focus on posture guidance and gait training, vestibular therapy to address poor balance issues, stretches, and strengthening exercises.

This is usually a combination of weight bearing exercises and resistance exercises.

Weight bearing exercises use your body as natural weight to help you build strength and train your muscles and bones to bear weight in your day to day activities.

Weight bearing exercises may include:

• Tai chi
• Mat or Reformer Pilates
• Running or walking at a quick pace
• Racket sports, like tennis, badminton, squash, or pickleball
• Dancing

Resistance exercise uses a form of resistance to help build strength.

For example, you might use weights or resistance bands in exercises.

Resistance exercises also use gravity as a natural form of resistance (like climbing stairs, doing pushups or squats, or other body weight exercises).

However, exercise isn’t the only component of a good physical therapy program for osteopenia.

A dietitian can also help you develop a healthy and varied diet that targets your bone strength and density.

Book Your Appointment With Our Physical Therapy Clinic Today

Whether your primary health concern is osteopenia or something else, we can help.

At our physical therapy clinic, we can design a treatment plan that meets your needs so you can worry less about your health as you age.

We even offer convenient online physical therapy that can provide you with support from home.

Book your appointment with Capitol Physical Therapy today to find out more about managing your osteopenia symptoms and reducing your risk of developing osteoporosis.