An osteoporosis website opens
with this question, "Did you know that a woman's risk of osteo-related
fracture is greater than her risk of cervical, uterine, and breast
cancer combined?" Then why do people laugh when I tell them that I'm
scheduled for a baseline DEXA Scan next week at the age of 38? "Why do
you need one, you're so young?" "But you exercise and eat well, why
worry?" And my personal favorite, "You are so body aware, wouldn't you
know if you had a problem?"
Even with all the media
discussion about osteoporosis and the fact that one in two women over
the age of 50 will experience an osteoporosis related spinal fracture
people still don't take the problem to heart. Not only am I at
high risk for osteoporosis due to early surgically induced menopause, I do a lot of Pilates (at least 2-5
sessions per week) in addition to teaching and teacher training. And
there are a lot of Pilates exercises that I will need to stop doing or
radically modify if my bones are weak.
The issue of osteoporosis comes
up a lot at my Pilates studio. My clients are mostly caucasian women
over 50, many of whom are breast cancer survivors. On the whole, these
beautiful active women all look pretty healthy. They have decent
posture, play tennis and golf, walk a lot, and really try to eat well.
They have access to the best doctors, the latest medical treatments,
and the most cutting edge gyms, personal trainers, and Pilates studios.
Even so, most of them have low bone density--osteopenia and
osteoporosis (more on the difference in a minute) and the majority move
on a daily basis in ways that put them at greater risk of
fracture--EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE GONE TO CERTIFIED PILATES TEACHERS AND
PERSONAL TRAINERS. My purpose here is to educate you
about osteoporosis so that you will know what to do and not do for
yourselves and those you care about.
» left by Anonymous (3 years 119 days ago.)
Yes, it was helpful as a beginning. But how does someone with osteoporosis of the spine strengthen the core stomach muscles? What parts of Pilates can be done? Respond to this comment
» left by Lynda Lippin(364) Lynda Lippin (3 years 118 days ago.)
Thank you for your comment! There is not a lot to do in the traditional Pilates mat unless it is greatly modified (anything on stomach, on side, or in neutral spine with head down is fine). More on equipment since you can add standing, sitting, kneeling. The two best sources for Pilates exercises that are safe for osteoporosis are the books OsteoPilates and Standing Pilates. You can strengthen your core without forward flexion and rolling on your spine! Respond to this comment
» left by SE Hamilton from Miami Beach (1 year 285 days ago.)
Thank you for your information. I am a Pilates Instructor taking on a new client with osteoporosis and was looking for some information to guide me. Respond to this comment
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