If you know the background info, jump to "How We Treat It Differently."
Osteoporosis is a disease that weakens the bones, especially the wrist, hip, and spine. In the spine it can cause compression fractures. Osteopenia is the less intense version of osteoporosis and over time can lead to it.
- Osteopenia affects 34 million Americans, especially common in people older than 50 (according to Cleveland Clinic).
- Osteoporosis affects 44 million Americans, more than half of those 50 or older (Department of Health).
What Causes Osteoporosis?
Many factors:
- Decrease in estrogen at menopause, or decreased testosterone in men.
- Family history of osteoporosis.
- Diet low in calcium.
- Low activity levels, reduced exercise.
- Diet low in Vitamin D.
Your body is constantly laying down new bone and removing old bone while "remodeling." At one point the body starts removing more old bone than it lays down, which leads to bone weakening and reduced density.
Hormone levels create a large impact — too little or too much is a concern. Too little estrogen or testosterone; too much thyroid hormone; associated with too much parathyroid or adrenal gland activity. Long-term use of steroids reduces the rebuilding rate of the bone. Medical conditions that impact your GI tract and ability to absorb nutrients also play a role.
What Helps Osteoporosis?
Calcium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin A. Vitamin A and D must be present to absorb calcium — but not just any form of Vitamin D. It must be Vitamin D3, not D2. D3 appears much more effective at improving bone health and is found in fish oil, egg yolks, and sunlight. D2 is found in mushrooms and is often the form found in fortified milks and cereals.
Other nutrients that help bone health: Vitamin K2, Vitamin B6, fatty acids, copper, manganese, boron, iron, and zinc.
How We Treat It Differently
Our Bone Health Program includes a 3-week walking program mixed with BFR (blood flow restriction) therapy. The main goal is to increase the natural release of growth hormone in your body — growth hormone is what stimulates new bone growth.
With osteoporosis, you do not want to lift heavy loads due to the risk of a fracture. Therefore you have two options: lift lower weight loads, or use BFR + lower weight loads. Comparing low loads vs. BFR with low loads shows a large difference in growth hormone response.
Why is that extra growth hormone release important? Because BFR and low-weight loading increases bone formation at a quicker rate than without BFR — 25% better, in fact.
Summary: Using BFR allows for a large growth hormone response, which lays down bone quicker than without it. This reduces your risk of a fracture in your back or hip, putting you at risk for less time.
Related service: Bone Health