My 50 year old female client has osteopenia heading quickly towards porosis.
This is probably a good discussion to have with her primary care physician. From my understanding, rowing is generally contraindicated in cases where people might be at a higher risk for vertebral fractures. Again, I don’t have enough details, but if she is rowing on a regular basis, it doesn’t appear that it has been adequate to maintain her BMD. Maybe she has been doing too much rowing, or her diet has been inadequate?
I’m assuming that she must be supplementing with Calcium, Vitamin D, and possibly on medications? Improving BMD can take a while and I would think resistance training should be part of your plan. There are plenty of studies out there about resistance training and osteopenia.
An interesting study I found quickly, but didn’t read all of it:
http://scholarsarchive.library.oregonstate.edu/xmlui/handle/1957/29622
Hi Sarah. I’ve worked with several women with osteoporosis or osteopenia. I totally agree with Steve that the first step should be to discuss this with your client’s treating physician (with her permission of course). Working with and through her physician is essential when working with this condition. My client presented with osteopenia and after several months of our working together, had a completely ‘normal’ bone scan on her next doctor’s visit. It can be done as long as it’s done safely!
Rowing is a fairly low-impact exercise, but again, I’d check with her physician to make sure that this is not contraindicated for her. You don’t mention what part of your client’s body is affected by the osteopenia, so that also will have an impact on what exercise is appropriate for her.
i hope that this helps.
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
Osteopenia/osteoporosis is a clinical condition as you know and I would be sure that the insurance you carry covers training individuals who have clinical conditions in the event that she injures herself while you are training her.
I am curious to know why do you think that her osteopenia is heading “quickly to porosis?” Do you know her BMD? You haven’t given us any numbers.
Is she being treated for osteopenia? What did her physician say?
If I were in your shoes I would really have her get a release from her physician because she has a clinical condition and I would also purchase ACSM’s textbook
“Exercise Management for Persons with Chronic Disease and Disabilities.”
If you arm yourself with the science, you never have to ask the forum.
Best to you.
Hi Sarah,
since she knows that she already has lost some BMD, I assume that the test was done by her physician and that she is cleared for exercise. According to the ACE AHFS manual, the diagnosis of osteopenia alone does not mandate the cessation or even alteration of all activity. In addition, the bone scans are site specific and have probably been performed at the hip.
While I would refer the question about the rowing to her physician, I would suggest to her to include weight-bearing exercises to replace the rowing. Since you describe her as very fit, she may be able to start exercising at intensities that can actually improve BMD.
Wish you good luck with your client.
Karin Singleton
www.meltnc.com