Low Bone Mass

Osteopenia, also called Low Bone Mass, causes a person’s bones to become thin and weak which increases the risk of breaking something.

  • 44 million adults in the United States have osteopenia and it’s also very common in the United States.
  • It is also referred to as a silent disease because you can’t feel your bones becoming thinner or weaker.

Broken bones caused by osteoporosis or low bone mass are most likely to occur in the hip, spine, pelvis, upper arms, and wrist, but also other bones.

  • Low bone mass can occur at any age; most people reach their peak bone mass by age 30.
  • Bone mass stays relatively steady for the next 20 years.
  • After a woman reaches menopause, usually around age 50 bone mass is lost faster than it’s created, which leads to weakening of the bones.
  • Family history partly determine what your peak bone mass will be,
  • Healthy lifestyles choices will help you reach the greatest peak bone mass possible for the person.

Some cause from low bone mass can include:

  • Advanced age
  • Female gender
  • Low body weight or thin
  • Recent weight loss
  • History of fractures
  • Family history
  • Tobacco use
  • Alcohol abuse
  • Lack of exercise
  • Eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia

Island Sports Physical Therapy helps with a low bone mass that treats patients with osteoporosis or risk of developing osteoporosis.

The idea of physical therapy is to teach safe ways of moving, lifting, and provide exercises that the patient can do at home. This will help prevent the decline in bone mass and prevent future fractures. Physical therapy also suggests exercising for flexibility to help decrease the stress placed on the bones. Island Sports Physical Therapy is known for its hard work and hands-on care with its patients. The goal is to have patients recover and prevent future injuries.