What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a musculoskeletal condition, that is defined as reduced bone density. As a Fitness professional you will need to know about this condition in both your Level 2 and Level 3 Anatomy exams, as well as within your Exercise Referral studies.
In this blog we’ll explain what is osteoporosis, and make it really easy to remember by using a simple chocolate bar analogy.
We will also look at the exercises that you should and should NOT d with your osteoporotic clients
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition that is defined by a reduced level of Bone Density.
This can be pretty hard to imagine, so instead imagine two chocolate bars:
A Crunchie and An Aero
A normal bone looks like a Crunchie chocolate bar.
An osteoporotic bone looks like an Aero.
They actually have similar attributes to these chocolate bars too…
This 10 minute video answers “what is osteoporosis” and relates it to chocolate bars. But it also explains what you can and cannot do with your clients.
What is osteoporosis?
What exercises are good for Osteoporosis?
The best exercises to do are anything that promotes activation of glutes, core and anterior tibialis, to help fall prevention.
It is also really important that these clients do weight-bearing activities.
Therefore instead of recommending Swimming as a Cardiovascular exercise, you could recommend walking as this exposes the bone to the stimulus of gravity. Small changes like adding in weight-bearing activity, will help prevent further deterioration of the bone density.
What exercises should be avoided for Osteoporotic clients?
There are certain exercises that are contraindicated for osteoporotic clients including high impact exercises like jumping and running. These exercises could cause compression fractures in some individuals, and also increase the risk of falls which could lead to fractures.
It is also important to avoid excessive flexion and extension of the spine, especially in more advanced stages of osteoporosis. These positions can cause excessive loading on the sine, which could cause a fracture.
If you want to work with Osteoporotic clients, you should be exercise referral qualified, you can find out more about our online exercise referral course here…

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