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Thomas Wilkinson
Mrs. Carol O’Hara
Mr. Richard Mulski
12/22/03
The Most Useful Methods to Control Osteoporosis
It’s true; exercise does help prevent bone loss. There are many types of bone
diseases in today’s world. At first when you think of bone disease, the most common
response would be arthritis. Arthritis is defined as a chronic joint disorder that is caused
by degeneration of joint cartilage and surrounding bone that causes extreme pain and
stiffness in the limbs. Arthritis is the most widely known bone disease. However, there
are literally thousands upon thousands of bone diseases in today’s generation. Another
high-ranking bone disease is osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is the subject of my interest.
Osteoporosis is a bone density disease that causes bones to become brittle and can literally
break without warning. My studies will reveal the answers to this
hidden disease that seems to haunt an estimated 44 million
Americans (Fast Facts…). I will intertwine osteoporosis with
exercise. The solutions of doctors, scientists and myself will be
described in detail to help with understanding every aspect of this
Figure 1: Healthy to
Low Density
often ignored disease.
The First Signs
The first signs of osteoporosis are not always obvious to recognize. In fact,
without a major event occurring, it would most likely go undetected. According to Karina
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R. from Dynamic Physical Therapy, “the first sign of osteoporosis is a breakage of bone
without significant trauma.” (Karina.)
For example, if a person falls or slips and
lands on the ground, chances are that
person may have broken a bone no matter
how hard that person landed. She also
stated, “you [anyone] would go to the
doctor to get a scan to see what your
bone density is like.” (Karina) A bone density
scan, professionally called the “BMD” (bone
Figure 2: Bone Density Scan
(Bone Mineral Density Test)
mineral density), is a test that measures the amount of calcium for a certain region of
bone. (Figure 2) Depending on the information resulting from the “BMD” determines
whether a person is at risk of getting this disease or needs to be treated for the disease. A
basic understanding of this disease is needed for those who have this or might think they
have this illness.
Treating the Disease / Medications
This is a disease that is hard to find and difficult to cure. In fact, there is no cure
for osteoporosis. There are only ways to keep it under control. During my interview with
Karina R. from Dynamic Physical Therapy, I asked her what the best method to keep
Osteoporosis under control was and she responded with many methods. She stated
“muscle support, muscle strengthening, weight bearing exercise, good calcium intake, and
avoiding long periods of bed rest.” ( Karina.) Muscle support and strengthening coincide
with weight bearing exercise. Weight bearing exercise is the most important component
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in stabilizing osteoporosis. Physical training is key to overcoming osteoporosis. Walking,
weight lifting, warm-up exercises are all different exercises used to beat osteoporosis.
Medications are also used for treating patients of osteoporosis. They range from over the
counter medications to prescribed medications. The most basic are calcium supplements.
(Figure 3) According to my interview with Simmi Oomaaen, a leading pharmacist at Kmart Corp., some over-the-counter medications used for Osteoporosis are “pain relievers
such as Tylenol™, anti-inflammatories such as
Motrin™ or Aleve, ™ and calcium tabs with
Vitamin D.” (Oomaaen) Even over the counter
medications can help comfort a patient suffering
from osteoporosis. The most common prescribed
medication is Fosamax® (Alendronate Sodium
Figure 3: Calcium
Supplements
tablets). In reference to a pamphlet on Fosamax®, it states “Fosamax is a bisphosphonate
[synthetic analogs of pyrophosphate that attach to bone] that acts as a specific inhibitor of
osteoclast-medicated bone resorption.” (Fosamax®) This basically means that it acts as a
calcium replacement that attaches to the bone itself once it is ingested. Another
medication is Actonel® (Risedronate Sodium). It is used for the treatment of
postmenopausal Osteoporosis. Risedronate slows bone loss and increases bone density.
Yet another prescribed medication is Miacalcin® (Calcitonin). Calcitonin is as stated in
an article by the NOF (National Osteoporosis Foundation), “a naturally occurring
hormone involved in calcium regulation and bone metabolism.” (“Medications to Prevent
& Treat Osteoporosis.” Medications are used to help keep Osteoporosis under control, but
there is no medication that can cure this disease.
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Who is at Risk?
Osteoporosis affects all types of people. However, it does affect one class more
than another. According to an article written by Carol Lewis, “More than 10 million
Americans have osteoporosis, according to the National Institute on Aging. The majority
of these 28 million are women. But men are at risk for the bone-thinning disease, too.”
(Lewis) As stated, more women are affected by this illness. Most woman get this illness
in their later years, usually while they’re going through menopause or in their post
menopausal years. Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when the normal cycle of the
ovaries and the normal menstrual cycles cease. This causes less estrogen to pump and
flow throughout the body. Estrogen is a hormone in a woman that promotes calcium
intake. Without estrogen, loss of bone density increases rapidly. Men are less likely to
get this disease because men generally have larger, stronger bones and also don’t go
through such rapid hormonal changes as women. Most small framed, petite women are
affected by osteoporosis. The ethnicity of this disease is diverse; however, there is one
group that is primarily affected with this deficiency. That group is petite Caucasian
women who are in the postmenopausal era of their life.
Nutrition
A person with osteoporosis does need to follow a certain nutritional diet. Their
diet consists of foods high in calcium. Foods that are
pasteurized are an excellent source of calcium. Milk,
yogurt, cheese, ice cream, fruit, and vegetables are all
examples of calcium enriched food. (Figure 4) A
proper diet is essential for bones to mature and grow.
Figure 4: Calcium Minerals
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The food and/or drink that has the highest amount of calcium is, of course, milk,
especially milk that is heavily fortified with the Vitamin D. “Vitamin D helps your body
absorb and utilize calcium.” (“Osteoporosis: Nutrition Guidelines.”) Recent research
shows that a person suffering from osteoporosis should avoid any carbonated drinks.
Carbonated drinks contain the chemical phosphorus. Phosphorus causes calcium to be
unabsorbed in a person’s stomach to a person’s blood stream. According to Dr. Rebekah
Wang-Cheng, a former professor of medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin,
“phosphorus binds to the calcium in your stomach and prevents absorption of the calcium
into your blood.” (Wang-Cheng) Carbonated drinks cause more harm to a person with
osteoporosis especially because not many people realize these drinks can hurt them.
Another substance that is harmful to a person enduring osteoporosis is caffeine. Caffeine
is a drug characterized as a booster. Nearly three quarters of all Americans drink coffee in
the morning in order to “wake up.” Mainly caffeine affects elderly patients suffering from
Osteoporosis. “Researchers believe that older women are less able to offset the natural
calcium loss that caffeine causes, resulting in increased bone thinning.” (“Caffeine and
Bone Density in Older Women.”) Patients of Osteoporosis should maintain a healthy,
calcium enriched diet in order to prevent loss of bone density throughout their body.
Exercise
Exercise is paramount to bone growth. The best method of maintaining bone
density is through exercise. Weight bearing exercise is the one type of exercise that can
help just about any classification of bone disease. If
anyone looks up a bone disease anywhere, that person will
find some type of medicine referring to weight bearing
Figure 5: Weight
bearing exercise
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exercise. Some examples of weight bearing exercise are walking, jogging, weight lifting,
and warm-up activities. (Figure 5) These exercises provide enough support on each of the
necessary joints that allow bones to grow in density. According to Harvard Medical
School, “Weight bearing exercise not only builds bone, it increases strength, flexibility,
and balance.” (Komaroff 595-598) Exercise is crucial to increasing bone mass. A regular
program should be worked into an osteoporosis’s patient schedule and everyone else’s
routine. Daily weight bearing exercise can help to prevent any person from getting
Osteoporosis. According to Harvard Medical School, “Make a point to get at least 30
minutes of weight-bearing exercise five times a week, such as brisk walking, running, or
dancing.”(Komaroff 595-598) On the other hand, too much exercise is not beneficial for
anyone, with or without Osteoporosis. Too much exercise can lead to fatigue. Over doing
a specific amount of repetitions in an exercise without giving a person a break can lead to
over exhaustion. This would be specifically harmful to a person with Osteoporosis
because rest is needed in order for bones to grow.
Taking medicine alone without
exercise is ineffective because these two solutions coexist. Without the other, the patient
would show no signs of increased bone density. According to a pamphlet created by
Christiana Care, “Exercise can help improve coordination, potentially preventing a
fracture-causing fall.” (Osteoporosis. Christiana Care) All
in all, exercise is the one of the best treatments when it
comes to osteoporosis.
Most Common Areas of Break
Figure 6: Wrist Fracture
(“Colles' Fracture”)
The most common fractures that are linked to
Osteoporosis are the spine, wrist, and hip. These areas
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suffer the most breaks because of the joints that surround them. Each is actually its own
joint. “Bending over to pick up the newspaper or a simple sneeze can cause a vertebra
made fragile by osteoporosis to collapse.” (“Fractures.”) The simplest activities can cause
harm to a person with severe osteoporosis. Another realistic example is that of the wrist.
“When a person tries to break a fall with their hands, the sudden bodyweight can cause the
ends of the radius and ulna to fracture just above the wrist.” This type of fracture is known
as “Colles' Fracture”. (Figure 6) Usually when a person falls that person tends to break his
or her own fall by landing on the palms of his or her hands. This would cause the wrist to
snap at the ulna if there is a sign of osteoporosis. Lastly, a hip fracture is the one of the
most frequently diagnosed breaks caused by Osteoporosis. The usual spot the break
occurs is on the upper femur. This is hard to believe because according to research, the
femur bone that is connected at the hip is one of the strongest bones in the body. “The
upper femur is normally one of the strongest bones in the body.” “Yet over 350,000
Americans sustain hip fractures every year.” (“Fractures.”) These are the three most
common fractures that occur due to the bone disease known as Osteoporosis.
My Solution
Exercise is key to handling osteoporosis, specifically a weight bearing exercise as I
have mentioned. The public’s unawareness of this disease offers serious consequences to
those people who have osteoporosis but have yet to be treated for the disease. According
to the Medical Surgical Nursing reference book, “Most physicians prescribe a firm corset
or brace.” (Shafer) My ideas have to do with the exercise aspect of osteoporosis. I will be
creating and designing a wrist exercising machine. I will use two straps (Universal fitting
straps) designed to fit each and every person. My first idea consists of four circular hoops
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connected to these straps. The hoops would be located on the front
side of the arm, the left side of the arm, the right side of the arm,
and on the forearm. (Figure 7) Attached to these hoops will be
four budgie cords. Each budgie cord will have the same amount of
tension. This will provide the recipient with an equal amount of
pressure to the wrist on all four angles or sides. In turn, the wrist
Figure 7: My Wrist
Machine (first idea)
will be able to move in any direction with enough support through the budgies. Through
the manufacturing process I discovered that this idea would not work because there must
be a place for the person to grip throughout the exercise. Without this grip the wrist
would simply be able to move freely without any tension factor. Also in the arrival of my
final idea I discovered that I will only be able to use two bungee cords instead of four to
enforce tension. This is because of the grip bar that I have manufactured. The bar has
only two places for the bungee cords to be placed or inserted. This place is directly on the
ends of the bar. I have drilled holes in specific areas on the bar to ensure the tension level
will be precise and accurate. I have included a computer aided drawing of my design for
the grip bar to help provide a better view of my final idea. (See figure 8 below) My final
design conveniently nicknamed “The Wrist Enhancer” consists of two small bungee cords,
which will be connected to an aluminum bar. The bar I cut from aluminum stock and is
one inch thick and 6 inches long. The bar will be held in the palm of the exerciser’s hand.
Rubber will be glued around the bar to increase comfort and for the person to obtain a
more strengthened grip. The wrist and elbow bands are made from black leather strips. I
measured and cut these strips to fit every single person. The wristband is positioned
below the wrist bone. The elbow band is placed directly above the elbow. Velcro strips
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will be added on each end of both the wrist and elbow bands to join the ends of each band
together. I chose to use Velcro instead of snaps, clasps, or buttons so it will be easier for
the person to assemble. In addition, the bands can be adjusted to the actual size of the
person’s wrist and elbow. The bungee cords will pass through the wristband from the grip
bar and connect to the elbow band. The hand is then moved in a forward and then
backward movement or motion to perform and utilize this device. The tension aspect is
important and will offer a unique type
of weight –bearing exercise for all of
the wrist elements. The budgie cords
will not be in too much tension for the
safety of the patient. If a person has
severe osteoporosis, then their wrists
will be in a low-density state. This machine
Figure 8: My final design
will be created to slowly increase a person’s
bone mass. The same level of tension will be used forever. Eventually the wrist will
become acquired to the force of tension and will react in a maturing manner. This simply
means it will become stronger. The bones in the wrist will slowly begin to build mass,
and the muscles surrounding the wrist will become stronger as well. There are many
tendons in the forearm region. These tendons will become condensed, causing more
muscle to be formed. Therefore, this simple machine causes an added benefit to increased
bone mass, muscle growth. A person suffering from osteoporosis can be increasing
muscle size while at the same time increasing bone density. Also this device can be used
as a means of physical therapy. If a patient has suffered a broken wrist, the wrist machine
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can be used for treating the wrist once the cast or bandage is removed. The wrist can be
slowly worked back into every day use by using this device. Overall, this device will be
used to better a patient suffering from the bone deteriorating disease known as
Osteoporosis.
Test Results / Conclusion
I have created certain tests to determine if my
product actually works or not, one test will involve a
subject. I conducted one test on the day of February 18,
2004. This test was simple and to the point. I measured
the forearms of 13 individuals both males and females
(Results shown in figure 9). I did this to get the average
size of the forearm. I then used the average length of
his or her forearms to decide how long each bungee
cord shall become. Also I used this information to
determine how much the bungee cords should be in tension
Used for Bungee Cord
Studen
ts
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2
3
4
5
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7
8
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10
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Measure of forearm (in
inches)
8 in.
10.5 in.
11 in.
11.5 in.
10.5 in.
8.5 in.
11 in.
12 in.
9.5 in.
11.5 in.
11 in.
10.5 in.
10 in.
Figure 9: Test of forearm
before it is attached to the grip bar. I allowed a patient suffering from Osteoporosis to use
my device for a one-month period. The person used my device 3 times daily for an
unspecified amount of minutes. This allowed for rests between exercises. Rests are
essential for bone and muscle growth. The final price for my product is undecided. A
range could better be declared. The price range of my product includes all the costs I
contributed into the manufacturing of the product. The leather strips were ten dollars
each, and I purchased two of them. The bungee cords were seven dollars to a set of 4, and
I purchased one set of them. The aluminum I received for free but on the market could
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range anywhere from five to ten dollars. The Velcro strips were approximately five
dollars each, and I purchased two of them. All together the total comes to approximately
fifty dollars. If this product went on the market it would sell at around fifty-five dollars
each. All in all, this product is relatively cheap in cost and is very effective in
performance.
Works Cited
“Bone Density.” Morris Inc.2003 <www.morrisonlabs.com/ osteoporosis.htm> (Figure 1)
“Bone Density Scan.” A.D.A.M., Inc, 8 October 2003 <www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
ency/imagepages/1073.htm> (Figure 2)
“Caffeine and bone density in older women.” ADA's Public Relations Team, 2002 <
http://webdietitians.org/Public/NutritionInformation/index_2648.cfm>.
“Calcium Minerals.” A.D.A.M., Inc., 2003
<http://health.yahoo.com/health/encyclopedia/000360/tn.html> (Figure 4)
“Calcium Supplements.” Pennsylvania State University, 2002 <www.creatinghealth.psu.edu/
osteo/supplements.html>
“Colle’s Fracture.” Handworld 2003<www.eatonhand.com/ hw/hw020.htm> (Figure 6)
“Exercise.” York University 2002 <www.yorku.ca/wellness/>
(Figure 5)
Fosamax®. Merck & Co., Inc, 2000.
“Fast Facts on Osteoporosis.” National Institutes of Health Osteoporosis and Related Bone
Diseases 14 Oct. 2003
<http://www.osteo.org/newfile.asp?doc=fast&doctype=HTML+Fact+Sheet&doctit
le=Fast…>
“Fractures.” ISL Consulting Co. 7 June 2002
<http://health.yahoo.com/health/centers/strongbones/9.html>.
Komaroff, Anthony, ed. Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide. New York:
Simon and Schuster, Inc, 1999. 595-598.
Lewis, Carol. “Osteoporosis in Men.” Food and Drug Administration. Dec 2002 <
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2002/502_men.html>.
“Medications to Prevent & Treat Osteoporosis.” National Osteoporosis Foundation,
©2003 < http://www.nof.org/patientinfo/medications.htm>.
Oomaaen, Simmi. Personal interview. 10 Dec. 2003.
Osteoporosis. Christiana Care, 2001.
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“Osteoporosis: Nutrition Guidelines.” Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, ©2003 <
http://www.seattlecca.org/patientsandfamilies/nutrition/nutritionDietsguidelines/os
teoporosisNutritionguidelines.htm>. (Figure 3)
R., Karina. Telephone interview. 9 Dec. 2003.
Shafer, Kathleen, ed. “Medical Surgical Nursing.” Saint Louis: C.V. Mosby Company,
1975. 768-769.
Wang-Cheng, Rebekah. “Carbonated Drinks and Calcium Absorption.” Medical College
of Wisconsin. ©2003 < http://healthlink.mcw.edu/article/959705343.html>.
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