Client with Osteoporosis
I’ve had a client (early 60’s) in my cardio and small group weight training class for a little more than 7 years. Once a week cardio. Once a week in my small group training, which is mostly bodyweight / TRX (not heavy lifting). She is height weight proportionate, but on the slender side of that. Gets almost 20,000 steps a day as she walks her dog and trains it for sport. I would consider her very active and strong at bodyweight movement.
Recently diagonsed with osteoporosis. She didn’t tell me her number, but she was shocked. I’m a little shocked, too.
I just attended a class on working with aging clients. The course materials didn’t really fit didn’t really fit this client, they were more for the non-exerciser just getting started with very light load. She’s active, and she’s been weight training. The advice I did like, and will ensure that I’m implementing every class, is to ensure that I’m working all around her hip for stability and strength.
I see her again on Monday in small-group. My instinct is to get her bone density info so I know a basic idea of her extent, get a doctor’s clearance before changing anything we’re doing, but propose lifting external loads more frequently and bodyweight training less frequently.
I would be grateful for any additional ideas.
Thank you, Sue and Janet, for your replies.
My thought (assuming doctor approves / agrees) was to ask her to start coming to me twice a week for small group rather than just once.
I’m not discounting bodyweight training. It’s fabulous! I was just thinking about more loaded linear training for greater strength. I went to a wonderful workshop with Michol Dalcourt last weekend at PTI – West (Seattle) and he was talking about how our clients should be working out a bit in each of the following four quadrants:
1) Loaded linear movement
2) Loaded 3-dimensional movement
3) Unloaded linear movement
4) Unloaded 3D movement
where loaded = external resistance and unloaded = bodyweight
where linear = one plane of motion and 3D = moving through multiple dimensions
It’s not “my fault” that she got osteoporosis, but I feel horrible that she has it. Frantically reading everything I can, so we can keep her safe and support her continued activity level. This is one very active woman!