Has anyone found an exercise based program proven to work?
To All-Very important information shared by Belinda Beck from- theboneclinic- goggle that- based in Australia- yesterday in the Osteoporosis Summit that has been sited here going on this week. The Liftmor trials, which she was in charge of , has been tracking people for over 10 years put a program into place called Onero, based on that thinking and the results are in and impressive. It works to improve bone mass. It's based on HiRIT -( I believe the acronym is to denote High Intensity Resistance Impact Training). It can be safe and effective led BY PEOPLE that have been trained. She emphasized NOT to do these exercises without SUPERVISION. Sherri Betz's exercise programs are built off this thinking. Beck said to grow bone you need specific, targeted training. They watched people over many years in the Liftmor trials and then went one step further to set up a clinic in the real world to test it out . As she explained, its based on one lifting 85% of what you can lift in one repetition. So that is a lot, but everyone is different. For one it might mean starting with a broom stick , for another it could mean 2o lbs or more. The program is individualized for each person. Each person receives a 2 1/2 hr baseline assessment. A very important thing she commented on that at first they were confused about was why the femoral neck didn't change the BMD score much- but hot off the press this week- they have a 3-D testing device in their clinic and it revealed that the thickness of the cortex increased particularly where the femoral neck fracture usually starts. and further the proximal head of the femur cortex gets thicker along with the trabeculae . so therefore the shape of the bones improve and there's increased internal hip support. She did go over some of the basic criteria to do this Onero program , but I won't bore you with those details , except to say that most people can participate in this treatment. I will direct you to go to a podcast with Margie Bissinger PT where she interviews Dr. Claudia Tamas, she is an Onero trained clinician that heads up a medical clinic in NJ. This information is new and there are very few clinics in the US that offer this . So get out there and talk about it, maybe share this info with your general dr, endo, PT office, etc. so it can begin to be offered in more places!!! That was a lot , but hope that this gives you all some hope!! Beck said they are changing the idea that instead of meds, exercise can be the first line of defense against osteoporosis issues!! Good Luck to all on your own path!
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Thanks. I'm in Canada and sadly we have no one offering Onero here. I have to say my efforts haven't yielded much so far, but I've just drafted an email to the CEO of the exercise clinic franchise that I regularly use. She's very interested in "exercise as therapy", so, fingers crossed!
@wynn00001- Terrific!! Keep us posted !!!
Please note I misspelled Dr. Claudia’s last name -it is Tamas. Sorry for that!!
I've had very good results with a physio who specialises in bone health. Recommended by my GP.
I 'm 76 (menopause at 41) and now doing 24K kettlebell squats in the gym ( Not sure where this one ends!) Plus increasing weights on the leg press. Will have to take anastrozole for at least three more years- a drug very bad for bones, but there seems to be no other choice. I had an aggressive grade 3 hormone-fed breast cancer.
@freckle1 - maybe you could share where in the world you live in case someone could see that physio too. But maybe you don’t want to divulge that, if so , no problem!!! Good for you!!!!
To follow-up on my contact with PT at my clinic about adding Onero to their offerings...I reached out via email twice, and got no response. I knew that I would be having a round of physio in the not too distant future, so opted to make my next attempt in person.
I started PT this week, and waited for a good point in which to segue our chit chat during my session to Onero. My PT was really excited by the idea. I gave her the website (onero.academy) and told her where she could find supporting trials and research (https://theboneclinic.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Publication-evidence-for-Onero-2.pdf). She's going to have a look. I meet with her again next week, so I can talk to her more about it then. I'll post an update here to let you know whether it's something the PT department, and/or the gym at the clinic are seriously considering.
Brisbane Australia. Happy to share if anyone's interested. The gym is in the Valley. (It's well ventilated but no air con. I don't want aircon anyway because of covid risk. It has been a bit of a slog in the summer heat and humidity.) The physio does practise at another gym which has air con.
@freckle1 - This should encourage others to talk to the PT’s they are associated with. The critical info to provide them with are outlined in your post. Thanks for that, makes it specific as to where and how the PT depts can get information easily. I’m not surprised you’re from Australia as that’s where the idea and the data was secured. So I would think knowledge of the Onero program is more well known . NOW we need to spread the word here in the US!!! Thanks again for your post!!!
Can people who already have severe osteoporosis participate in this program?
Yes, I have severe osteoporosis with a prior L1 fx and I could’ve joined the program , but the closest one to me is 3 hours away. If you’re limited in functional mobility( ie in a wheelchair you may be precluded. )To get specific answers to your questions DrClaudia Tamas who is an Accredited ONERO Practioner in Somerset NJ would be able and happy to answer them. 908-252-0242 or contact her at NMRNJ.com ( which stands for Natural Medicine and Rehabilitation center in NJ. Good luck …