Scoliosis and Osteoporosis: What You Should Know
As a scoliosis patient, you know how your condition can affect other parts of your body and health. We’ve talked about how scoliosis can affect your visceral organs and your lymphatic system, and we’ve also covered how your curve can make your job extra challenging.
But how does scoliosis affect your bone health? And conversely, how does your bone health impact your scoliosis?
There’s a significant connection between scoliosis and osteoporosis. These two conditions can interact with each other, and having one may increase your risk for the other. So let’s talk about the link between scoliosis and osteoporosis and how you can keep your spine (and the rest of your bones) healthy!
Scoliosis and Osteoporosis: Facts and Stats
What comes to mind when you think about osteoporosis? Do you picture an elderly person? Someone who’s small and frail? While those thoughts aren’t necessarily inaccurate, they don’t paint the whole picture. Osteoporosis can affect people of many different ages and body types, especially if there are other conditions such as scoliosis.
Osteoporosis statistics
In fact, it’s estimated that over 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, and 80% of them are women. While osteoporosis can affect people of any age and gender, postmenopausal women generally have the highest risk.
Other common risk factors include being
Thin
Fair-skinned
Inactive
A smoker
Consuming a high amount of high alcohol or caffeine also increases your risk of osteoporosis.
Is there a statistical link between scoliosis and osteoporosis? Yes! One study found that individuals with scoliosis had a much higher risk of osteoporosis compared to their siblings who didn’t have scoliosis.
Osteoporosis definition and diagnosis
So, what exactly is scoliosis? It’s a bone-weakening condition that’s caused by a decrease in bone mineral density and quality over time. When you have osteoporosis, your bones are more porous and brittle, which makes them more prone to fractures.
Osteoporosis is diagnosed via a bone mineral density test that measures the amount of minerals in the bones. That measurement can show whether an individual’s bone mineral density has decreased over time. Blood tests can also be helpful during diagnosis, as they can measure levels of calcium, hormones, and vitamin D, all of which are related to bone health.
Unfortunately, preventative care doesn’t always include osteoporosis screenings. It can be difficult to diagnose osteoporosis prior to a bone fracture. But you can request an osteoporosis screening, which is a good idea if you are a woman over 65 or if you have other contributing risk factors.
The impact of osteoporosis on scoliosis
Decreased bone density increases susceptibility to fractures. This risk is especially concerning to scoliosis patients because those breaks can happen in the spine (compression fractures). When you have scoliosis, the curve of your spine means that the vertebrae are unevenly loaded, so if a spinal compression fracture happens, it can augment the strain on the vertebrae and progress your curve.
Scoliosis-related compression fractures can happen on either plane. If your curve is predominantly side-to-side, fractures can happen in the sides of the vertebrae. If you have a sagittal-plane curve (usually characterized by rounded shoulders and a forward head posture), then compression fractures can occur in the front of the vertebrae and enhance the problematic posture even more.
How Do You Maintain Bone Mass?
What can you do to support healthy bones, especially if you have osteoporosis and scoliosis? In this situation, the “standard” medical advice isn’t always helpful. For example, I have a client who has scoliosis and osteoporosis, and her doctor told her to stop walking altogether to potentially reduce the risk of breaking a bone.
My client listened to her doctor and stopped walking. Sadly, the result was that her bone density continued to decline and her muscles atrophied, which made it even more difficult for her to support her curve and maintain an aligned posture.
When this client came to me, we talked about all the benefits of walking and how gentle activities like that are actually beneficial for scoliosis and osteoporosis. Bones grow stronger when they are placed under stress. So placing your bones under mild pressure (which happens when you walk or engage in strengthening activities) helps them grow stronger, which slows down the progression of osteoporosis.
Exercising Safely With Osteoporosis and Scoliosis
As I’ve worked with this client over the past few months, she has resumed safe exercise and seen substantial improvement in her quality of life and her bone density. It’s been so rewarding to watch her progress — even though it’s been equally frustrating to know how much worse her life would be if she had continued to follow her doctor’s advice.
If you have a healthcare provider who is recommending less activity in your life, especially if they are telling you to stop minimally risky activities like walking, I’d encourage you to get a second opinion. Gentle, consistent movement is one of the best ways to combat the effects of osteoporosis.
So, what can you do to reduce your risk of osteoporosis or to manage the symptoms if you have it?
Get regular exercise
Eat a healthy diet with plenty of calcium and vitamin D
Avoid smoking
Don’t drink excessive amounts of alcohol
Your healthcare provider may recommend certain supplements or medications.
It’s also important to exercise in ways that support better bone density. Here are some excellent options:
Walking
Bouncing (gentle bounces are fine as long as your knees bend and your heels get off the ground)
Practicing balancing poses (to reduce the risk of falling)
Strength training (lifting weights)
A trainer who specializes in scoliosis can help you build a strength training routine that’s safe and effective.
Support Healthy Bones and Protect Your Spine
Building strength protects your spine, reduces pain, and improves your quality of life. And strengthening your body is especially important if you have scoliosis and/or osteoporosis. If you’re looking for more information about exercising with osteoporosis, check out Buff Bones. And if you want more information about bone health, the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation is a fantastic resource.
I offer several different exercise programs for scoliosis patients. My Scoliosis Movement Bootcamp is an excellent place to start. This 6-month program gives you tips and resources to learn more about your body and incorporate gentle movement that’s safe for your curve. I also offer 1:1 and small-group coaching programs. I’d be happy to talk with you to determine which program is the best fit — you can schedule a call here.
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Resources Mentioned
Study: Does Scoliosis Cause Low Bone Mass? A Comparative Study Between Siblings
Study: Effects of Resistance Exercise on Bone Health
Buff Bones
The Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation
The Scoliosis Movement Bootcamp
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