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Doctors Reprimand Me For No Osteo Meds
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: 14 hours ago | Replies (100)Comment receiving replies
@roseincalifornia Whoa! I had a minor strain injury in my mid-back, not a vertebral fracture! My spine T-score is -0.9. It is my other bones/T-scores that put me into osteoporosis.
If all one is routinely lifting is a 1 lb can of soup, then bone is going to be degrading. Even if one's maximum lift is 10 lbs, then working out with a bit over 8 lbs should benefit your bones according to my reading of the study. It may not be enough to GAIN bone from lifting 85% of such a low 1RM weight. I do agree that a hypothetical person in that condition most likely needs the pharmaceuticals ASAP and needs the full supervision for any lifting.
I plan to start anabolic meds if I do not get enough benefit from HRT and lifting after 2 years when I would be 68. If my spine was -3.x then I think that I would start meds now. I am 10 months into the HRT + lifting and monitoring BTMs along the way. If my Bone Turnover Markers stop looking good then I plan to start the meds before 2 years is up.
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@kfhoz
I apologize. When you mentioned "injury", I assumed it was a fracture. I also assumed since you were explaining how much you wrecked deadlifting, that you had spinal osteoporosis. I am glad you do not. Your spine T-score of -0.9 is really good, and being able to deadlift 100lb is amazing!
I am only saying that the LIFTMOR study does not apply to many older women (70+, and sadly some who are even younger) who have not been exercising for decades, or only lightly exercising. Sarcopenia (muscle atrophy) starts around age 30, and increases substantially at menopause, and then even more at 65+. Women lose 8-10% of their muscle mass per decade by age 65+. For most average women who are 75+, have never lifted weights, their 1-rep-max is not going to be high enough that lifting 85% will not put enough pressure on their bones to increase their bone density. Maybe after lifting steadily for 1 year with a PT they can build up enough strength so their 1-rep-max is high enough, but by then their bone quality has deteriorated even more. The results of the LIFTMOR study are not applicable to these people.. Plus people who are 70+ are out of the age range of the participants of the study.
I am not saying someone with osteoporosis should not lift weights. Getting stronger is very important as we age. But people with osteoporosis should not think that just lifting weights (and supplements) will cure them of osteoporosis, especially if their t-score is less than -3.0.