What’s the connection between Osteoporosis, or Osteopenia (bone loss that’s less severe than Osteoporosis), and falling down?
- Option A: It makes you more likely to fall down
- Option B: It makes you more likely to break a bone if you fall down
- Option C: Both
Bone loss after a certain age is a fact of life. Postmenopausal women lose bone mass at an accelerated rate, but it may surprise you to know that older men also suffer a reduction in bone strength.
Did you know: women are more likely to break a hip during a fall, while men are more likely to suffer a head injury.
A recent European study showed that women between 40 and 75 with Osteoporosis had significantly poorer balance than those with Osteopenia and even less than those with no bone loss.
But which problem comes first? Weak bones, or poor balance? In some ways, it doesn’t matter.
How to Beat Biology
Or more accurately, how to harness it to your advantage.
What if there was a way to minimize bone loss and minimize your risk of falling? One treatment, two good outcomes.
Another recent study found that postmenopausal women who attended a 24-week aerobic dance class significantly improved their bone density, balance, and muscle strength compared to the control group.
Fast Facts
- Bone loss is slowed by regular weight-bearing exercise (bodyweight counts as weight-bearing)
- Regular exercise (a mixture of weight-bearing and aerobic exercise) is necessary for the muscle strength and coordination required for balance
- Exercise improves cognitive health (also important for good balance)
- Better balance results in fewer falls and less severe outcomes of falls
It doesn’t have to be hard, but exercise is a vital component in aging the way you want to, maintaining your independence, and avoiding falls.
Fortunately, it’s never too late to make that change and Zibrio has tools to help you.
Click here to find a balance specialist trainer near you, or find out more about other Zibrio tools below.
