BUILDING BETTER BONES

          

   Brittle bones for decades focused on post-menopausal osteoporosis women, but up to one-quarter of hip-fracture victims are men and their one-year survival rate is significantly lower than that of women with the same injury.  Researchers had “put blinders on and focused almost exclusively on compensating for the loss of estrogen at menopause,” says Stavros Monolagas, M.D, Ph.D., a professor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.  “But men also lose bone and, for most of their lives, at about the same rate as women.”  Research by Monolagas, who directs the university’s Center for Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Diseases has led to a broader view about the factors responsible for bone loss and where and when to target prevention and treatment. 

  Even bone mineral density testing, long considered the standard measure for determinant of bone strength than researchers once though, studies revealed that half of osteoporosis-related fractures occur in people whose bone-density readings would have ruled out the disease.  “If you think of it from an engineering point of view, the strength of the structure depends on several components, like the size and shape of the bone, not just strong building material, says Angels M. Cheung, M.D., founding director of the osteoporosis program at the University of Toronto.  “While bone density remains the best measurement for determining fracture risk, newer assessment tools consider many other factors that contribute to it, such as age, low body mass, lifestyle factors and medication,” she adds.

  Bone density may appear to be solid but it is living tissue in constant flux, old bone is being reabsorbed and new bone forming in its place.  “The honeycomb-like inner layer of bone, which provides structural support, starts declining immediately after people reach their peak bone mass,” Manolagas says. “Around age 65, the harder outer layer starts to become porous.  These and other age-related changes lead to an increased fracture risk.  People who smoke, have a poor diet, or are very thin increases their risk.  Strong muscles will provide solid support and improve balance.  Exercise promotes strength so incorporate resistance exercises into your fitness program.”  Dr. Norm Shealy, president of the Holistic Medication includes exercise in every possible way, even at his office.  After writing more than a dozen best selling books he continues to keep alert by sitting on an exercise ball at his office desk.  Ask your supervisor about doing this.