Osteoporosis Exercises TO AVOID that Increase Risk of Spinal Fracture

This Physiotherapy video guides you through 4 osteoporosis exercises to avoid that can increase the risk of spinal if you have high risk of spinal fracture with osteoporosis. Some of these exercises to avoid are commonplace in fitness centers and some exercise classes (e.g. Yoga and Pilates). Knowing how to modify potentially unsafe exercises can help you exercise safely and reduce the risk of osteoporosis fracture.

#osteoporosisexercises

Website: https://www.pelvicexercises.com.au

Exercise 1: Forward Bends
Exercises that involve bending forwards can increase the risk of having a spinal wedge or compression fracture with severe osteoporosis (Vertebral T-score less than −2.5 SD). A spinal compression fracture occurs when the vertebra are soft and brittle. Bending forwards compresses the vertebra which can cause them to become squashed and fracture with severely decreased bone density. Exercises such as abdominal curls and deep forward bend in Yoga compress the vertebra together. These exercises are easily modified with to reduce the risk of fracture.

Exercise 2: Loaded Forward Bends
Loaded forward bends further increase the risk of spinal wedge fracture and are therefore unsafe osteoporosis exercises. The risk of osteoporosis fracture increases the further forward you bend and the heavier the weight you lift.

Exercise 3: Spinal Rotation
Your spinal vertebra rotate during normal movement however some spinal rotation exercises can increase the risk of spinal fracture. Parts of the vertebra are forced against each other when the spine rotates to extreme ranges. Examples of extreme range spinal twisting exercises to avoid with severe osteoporosis include full range lumbar rotation exercises taking the knees right across to the ground and abdominal curl exercises that are combined with spinal rotations.

Exercise 4: Direct Spinal Loading
Some gym exercises for the legs and back involve placing a weighted bar at the top of the spine and across the shoulders. This force on the upper spine travels down through the vertebra and the load can compress soft brittle vertebrae causing a compression fracture. These unsafe osteoporosis exercises are readily modified

If you're currently doing any of these exercises and you have a high risk of spinal fracture with osteoporosis it's worth stopping these exercises now and discussing whether they're appropriate for your condition with your health professional.

References
Beck BR1, Daly RM2, Singh MA3, Taaffe DR4. (2017) Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) position statement on exercise prescription for the prevention and management of osteoporosis. J Sci Med Sport. 2017 May;20(5):438-445. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2016.10.001. Epub 2016 Oct 31.

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