Members of the LOP team joined the QMU Menopause Café to talk about bone loss during perimenopause and menopause.
The team discussed lifestyle factors, nutrition, and movement that can help keep bones healthy.
Attendees explored and gained advice on strength and balance by identifying best exercises for improving or maintaining bone density. This session was supported by the “Strong, Steady and Straight: Physical Activity and Exercise for Osteoporosis” guidance available at https://theros.org.uk.
Participants also had a chance to test their upper limb strength. A grip test was performed using a grip strength dynamometer.
Testing grip strength is a reliable indicator of overall upper limb strength (Cruz-Jentoft, et al., 2019) and this test was chosen as we know that reduced muscle strength can indicate reduced bone density (Clynes, et al., 2021).
Everyone, who attended, found the discussion very helpful and interactive.
References:
CLYNES, M. A., et al., 2021. Osteosarcopenia: where osteoporosis and sarcopenia collide. Rheumatology (Oxford), 60, 529-537.
CRUZ-JENTOFT, et al., 2019. Sarcopenia: revised European consensus on definition and diagnosis. Age and ageing, 48, 16-31.