Osteoporosis Research Paper

Introduction to Kinesiology

Optional Assignment

Amber Hosker

104316702

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone. It is formed from a decrease of bone strength and bone mass. Due the reduction of bone density, it makes bones thinner and more fragile. Resulting from osteoporosis your bones become extremely weak and put you at a higher risk of bone fractures. Osteoporosis is often known as the “silent thief” because it can happen without feeling any symptoms until the bone is actually broken. It causes bones to become weak and brittle --- so brittle that a fall or even mild stresses like bending over or coughing can cause a fracture.

Bone is living tissue, which is constantly being absorbed and replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation

Throughout our lives, our bodies break down the old bone and it replaces it with new bone. But as age increases, more and more bone is broken down than what is replaced. The bones in our bodies are constantly changing and never stay the same. Special cells called osteoclasts, located in the body have the main function of removing bone. These are different from another special cell called osteoblasts, which are bone-forming cells. If a person does not have osteoporosis, there is a balance between these two cells in the bone. But if the person is osteoporotic, osteoclasts will remove the bone faster than the osteoblasts can form the new bone. This will result in a net bone loss. Do you know what a honeycomb looks like? That is what the inside of the bone normally looks like, but when a person has osteoporosis the looks change. The spaces inside the bone become a lot larger, this showing the loss of bone strength and density. The outside of the bone also thins, making the bone even weaker. Osteoporosis causes permanent changes in the bone. There are some basic mechanisms that are responsible for the development of osteoporosis such as poor bone mass acquisition during growth and accelerated bone loss in the time period after one’s peak bone mass is achieved. Both are related with genetic factors. The risk of fracture in postmenopausal women is mainly determined by the peak bone mass during premenopausal stage. Peak bone mass

It also helps reduce more broken bones in people who have previously suffered from a broken hip. This medication is given to people with osteoporosis once a year through an IV.

Although these medications do help people who suffer from osteoporosis, they also have side effects. Some which include bone, joint or muscle pain. If the medications are consumed orally this can cause nausea, heartburn, difficulty swallowing the pills, or even a gastric ulcer. After receiving the medication through and IV, in can cause flu like symptoms like headache, fever and pain in muscles and joints. These symptoms will most likely go away in a couple of days.

Some other medication used in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis are:

 Calcitonin-slows bone loss and increase the bone density in the spine as well as reduces the risk of spine fractures. This medication can be taken in as a nasal spray or an injection. Some side effects of the nasal spray are runny nose, back pain and nosebleeds.

 Adequate calcium-1500 milligrams and prescribed Vitamin D-1000 units are also helpful.

Vitamin D is recognised as a key