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The Role of Exercise in the Treatment of Osteoporosis

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Abstract

The objective of exercise in the treatment of osteoporosis is to improve axial stability through improvement of muscle strength. Therefore, a back extension exercise program specific to one’s musculoskeletal competence and pain can be performed in a sitting position and later advanced to the prone position. When fragility is resolved, back extension is performed against resistance applied to the upper back. To decrease pain and immobility in acute vertebral fracture, use of spinal orthoses become inevitable. Therapeutic exercise should address osteoporosis-related deformities of axial posture, which can increase risk of fall and fracture. Strengthening of the major appendicular muscles decreases fragility. The effect of strengthening exercise is augmented by proper intake of cholecalciferol and calcium. Thus, the role of a therapeutic exercise program is to increase muscle strength safely, decrease immobility-related complications, and prevent fall and fracture. As with pharmacotherapy, therapeutic exercises are individualized.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA

    Mehrsheed Sinaki

  2. The Institute of Clinical Osteology, Bad Pyrmont, Germany

    Michael Pfeifer & Helmut W. Minne

  3. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Krankenhaus Hietzing mit Neurologischem Zentrum Rosenhuegel, Vienna, Austria

    Elisabeth Preisinger

  4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan

    Eiji Itoi

  5. Division of Bone Diseases, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland

    René Rizzoli

  6. Division of Geriatric Medicine and Center for Metabolic Bone Diseases, Leuven University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium

    Steven Boonen

  7. Department of Medicine and Rheumatology, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, Netherlands

    Piet Geusens

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  1. Mehrsheed Sinaki
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  2. Michael Pfeifer
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  3. Elisabeth Preisinger
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  4. Eiji Itoi
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  5. René Rizzoli
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  6. Steven Boonen
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  7. Piet Geusens
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  8. Helmut W. Minne
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Correspondence to Mehrsheed Sinaki.

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Sinaki, M., Pfeifer, M., Preisinger, E. et al. The Role of Exercise in the Treatment of Osteoporosis. Curr Osteoporos Rep 8, 138–144 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-010-0019-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11914-010-0019-y

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