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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What therapeutic treatment is recommended for Osteopenia?

    Related Topic
    Osteoporosis & Bone Health
    I am a 52 year old menopausal female. I have been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, which is controlled well by thyroxine. The results of pathology tests show that my Calcium and Vitamin D levels are good. Osteopenia- T scores - 2.3. I perform regular weight bearing exercise ( dancing) four times a week.
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    Craig Allingham

    Exercise Scientist, Physiotherapist

    Sports Physiotherapist for over 30 years, now more interested in teaching. Men's Health is my only clinical interest and not just the dangly bits. I … View Profile

    Obviously your metabolic deficiences need to be sorted with diet and/or medication. And doing the weight bearing exercise is a huge plus. One of the key stimulators of bone density is the strength of the muscles attaching to those bones. The stronger and more frequently (within reason) your muscles pull on their bone attachments the more often your bone metabolism is provoked by the every so slight bowing and flexinng of the bone tissue to lay down more cortical bone.

    While dancing is good, you may also benefit from a well supervised and safely delivered muscle strengthening program. Specifically anti-gravity work using body weight plus external resistance (weights, bands, machines) in a program designed to grow muscle tissue. This is a long term program and the results will only persist for as long as you continue to train. Consult an exercise health professional to assist with constructing a safe and effective program. You then just have to do it a few times per week.

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    Dr Kevin Lee

    Endocrinologist, Nuclear Medicine Physician

    Consultant Physician in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Nuclear Medicine. I am on Twitter @dr_kevinlee. I am on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kevinleefracp/ I help patients with obesity, diabetes, thyroid, … View Profile

     

    Weight-bearing exercises, adequate calcium and vitamin D intake are important in managing bone loss.

    Additionally it is important to consider bone loss processes such as corticosteroid use, hyperthyrodism, premature menopause or low testosterone in men.

    PBS-subsidised drug therapy for osteopenia is largely dependent on if there have been fragility fractures, corticosteroid use. 

    In general terms it is also prudent to consider absolute risk of fracture, best using FRAX or Garvan institute's osteoporosis fracture risk calculator before starting drug therapy, as there is never 100% safe medication.

     

     

    Regards,

    Dr Kevin Lee.

    Consultant Physician Endocrinologist

    http://bit.ly/1ydSLmE

     

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