medwireNews: People with osteoporosis should do regular exercise to maximize bone health and reduce fall risk, says an expert consensus statement published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
The panel of 12 experts – comprising physiotherapists, rheumatologists, academics, and a specialist nurse – developed their recommendations based on published evidence and clinical and patient opinion.
Based on their analysis, Katherine Brooke-Wavell (Loughborough University, UK) and team say that “[t]here is little evidence that physical activity is associated with significant harm, and the benefits, in general, outweigh the risks.” Their key recommendations, endorsed by the Royal Osteoporosis Society, say that people with osteoporosis should undertake:
- regular resistance and impact exercise to maximize bone strength;
- activities to improve strength and balance to reduce falls; and
- spinal extension exercise to improve posture and potentially reduce their risk for falls and vertebral fractures.
However, “we recommend avoiding postures involving a high degree of spinal flexion during exercise or daily life,” they caution, and note that “[p]eople with vertebral fracture or multiple low trauma fractures should usually exercise only up to an impact equivalent to brisk walking.”
The authors emphasize that “[m]ost importantly, inactivity should be avoided, physical activity encouraged and reassurance provided to counter the fear of moving that could detrimentally affect bone strength and health/quality of life more broadly.”
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