Osteoporosis

Bone cells and the bone they maintain are wonderfully designed structures when they are healthy. When they function incorrectly, however, disease occurs. Most people know that osteoporosis is a disease of the bones and that a majority of people of an advanced age will experience some level of osteoporosis. But there is a lot more that is known about the disease, other information that is not yet known, and some medical treatments available.

Think of bone like a see-saw. It requires a very regulated balance to keep both ends in the air. Bone cells control formation and resorption of bone to maintain the homeostasis of the bone see-saw, allowing the bones in our bodies to be strong yet flexible. When one side of the see-saw isn’t balanced out by the other, someone hits the ground hard. In the case of bones, when osteoclasts resorb more bone structure than osteoblasts form, they become brittle and prone to breaking, AKA osteoporotic.

Osteoporosis can be hard to diagnose until a bone breaks, and once the disease is to that point, it is very difficult to treat it. Osteoporotic bone has lower density and fewer osteocytes to sense mechanical stimulation. Most of the available treatments limit the amount of future bone resorption, but they are not able to make weak bone strong again. Recent anabolic, or bone building drugs, have been developed and represent the future of osteoporosis treatment.

The most proactive things you can do to limit the likelihood of experiencing debilitating osteoporosis is to exercise and eat a well-rounded diet, especially during childhood and adolescence. That doesn’t mean exercising as an adult won’t help! High intensity training like jumping jacks support bone maintenance and core exercises like planks improve balance so you are less likely to have an accident that leads to a broken bone.