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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    How can I build the bone density in my lower spine?

    I was recently diagnosed with osteopenia in my lower spine, other areas are fine. Will pilates help strengthen the bone in this region?
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  • 2

    Thanks

    Natalie Murray

    Pilates Instructor

    Natalie has been teaching Pilates since 1996. Her interest in corrective exercise lead her to Pilates. Helping people take back control over their bodies is … View Profile

    To build bone density, you need to do weight bearing and resistance exercises, and eat a balanced nutritional diet. Pilates can help osteopenia in the lower spine, as well as other joints where osteopenia is found. Targeting areas with exercises that place force on the bone will help to strengthen the bone. You'll also gain overall strength, flexibility, balance, and a better posture, which is very important in preventing falls. Therefore, the risk of bone fractures are decreased. Once again, being in a studio environment, you get used to the equipment and you are under close supervision.

  • Dr Ryan Hislop

    Chiropractor

    Ryan Hislop is the Clinical Director at the Orange Chiropractic Health and Wellness Centre. As an experienced and evidence-based diagnostician, Ryan works largely by medical … View Profile

    As Natalie mentioned, weight bearing and resistance exercise combined with a balanced nutrition diet is essential.

    From a chiropractic standpoint, we understand that biomechanics of the spine and the role that an even distribution of weight through each bone in the back is essential for ensuring that when you exercise, you are bearing weight through all the bones.

    With impropper curves, forces are higher in certain regions, and lower in others. We often see in practice, this accounts for decreased density beginning in the thoracic spine where osteoporitic fractures are commong.

    If the weight doesn't go through certain joints, the exercise will not be effective in improving bone density.

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