I’d suggest to request a prescription for physical therapy. Before you schedule an appointment with a PT call the facility and make sure you are seeing a therapist that has experience with osteoporosis. Just as in any broad field, like medicine, people specialize. There are sports, hand, geriatric, rehab, inpatient, outpatient specialists. It is not insulting to the therapist to ask about their background; it is actually a recognition that their specialized knowledge is appreciated.
My understanding of the PT research on building bone strength is that all of the regular exercise is good for maintaining bone (unless you’re under 18 and still growing). To really BUILD bone requires that the bone be stressed to the point of causing very minor fractures. New bone cells fill in the fracture and makes the bone stronger.
Two problems for some of us - some of us aren’t building bone as normal, we’re losing bone. So stressing the bone might not get filled in with new cells. The other is that stressing bone with osteoporosis may cause more damage than expected. That’s why having a knowledgeable PT design the exercises and then follow-up to monitor is important.
I don’t think everyone needs to see a PT. I have been at osteoporosis level for 3 years and have not wanted to stress my bones - I’ve always done enough exercise. My osteoporosis is not because I need more weight training, it’s because of some chemical, metabolic, or nutrition issue. I did a Reclast infusion last summer and my bones have just moved up into osteopenia level.