Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOsteoporosis SymptomsWhat Causes Osteoporosis?How Is Osteoporosis Diagnosed?How Is Osteoporosis Treated?How to Prevent OsteoporosisOutlook for Osteoporosis: Support and ResourcesNext in Osteoporosis GuideWhat Are the Stages of Osteoporosis?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Osteoporosis Symptoms
What Causes Osteoporosis?
How Is Osteoporosis Diagnosed?
How Is Osteoporosis Treated?
How to Prevent Osteoporosis
Outlook for Osteoporosis: Support and Resources
Next in Osteoporosis Guide
Osteoporosisis a disease that causes loss of bone mass over time. This condition is called a “silent” disease because it doesn’t cause pain or other obvious symptoms early on. However, as it progresses, osteoporosis can lead to bone fractures, which can be extremely painful.
This article discusses osteoporosis—what it is, what causes it to occur, how it’s diagnosed, and its treatment options.
Cavan Images / Getty Images
In its early stages, osteoporosis doesn’t typically cause pain or otherphysical symptoms; however, severe osteoporosis can lead to bone fractures that are painful. These fractures often happen after a fall or with simple daily tasks, like getting out of bed or bumping into furniture.
Fractures from osteoporosis typically affect the spine, hips, or wrists.In addition to severe pain, fractures in the spine can cause decreased height and a bent-over posture. As the disease progresses, osteoporosis can also cause changes in the way you walk and impact your balance.
Fractures From OsteoporosisApproximately 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men with osteoporosis will experience bone fractures.
Fractures From Osteoporosis
Approximately 1 in 2 women and 1 in 4 men with osteoporosis will experience bone fractures.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
Bone tissue is constantly breaking down and rebuilding itself through a process called remodeling. Osteoporosis develops when bone breaks down faster than it builds back up.
Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
Various factors can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis, including:
An Overview of Osteoporosis
In many people, osteoporosis isn’t diagnosed until they’ve experienced a bone fracture. However, a healthcare provider may recommend screening via bone mineral density testing to identify osteoporosis orosteopenia(a precursor to osteoporosis).
Healthcare providers commonly use central dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA scan) to test bone mineral density.Bones in the hip and spine are typically scanned, and results are given as aT-score. Here is what T-score results mean:
Fragility fractures(broken bones from low-impact trauma) that occur from osteoporosis are diagnosed with imaging tests, such as:
Osteopenia vs. Osteoporosis
Who Should Get Screened for Osteoporosis?Osteoporosis screening is often recommended for woman over age 65 or for people with risk factors for this condition.
Who Should Get Screened for Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis screening is often recommended for woman over age 65 or for people with risk factors for this condition.
Treatment for osteoporosisfocuses on stopping (or slowing) bone loss and reducing the risk of bone fractures. Treatment can include:
However, osteoporosis cannot be fully reversed.
Can Osteoporosis Be Reversed?
Osteoporosis Medications
Medications for osteoporosis can either slow bone loss or help rebuild bone.
Bisphosphonatesare often used first to treat bone loss. These can include:
Other osteoporosis medications include:
Physical Therapy
Physical therapyexercises address many issues that occur with osteoporosis—decreased balance, posture changes, decreased flexibility, and risk of fractures.
Examples include:
A physical therapist can also determine whether you need an assistive device (such as a cane or walker) to improve safety with walking.
Perhaps most importantly, a physical therapist can teach you which exercises to avoid—specific movements, such as twisting your spine—can increase your risk of fractures when you have osteoporosis.
Lifestyle Behaviors
Simple changes in your lifestyle, including the following, can improve your overall bone health if you have osteoporosis:
Staying active and eating a diet that includes adequate protein, calcium, and vitamin D can help maintain healthy bones early in life, which could ultimately help increase bone density and prevent osteoporosis.
Talk to a healthcare provider about screening for osteoporosis—particularly if you have risk factors for this condition. Early detection and treatment can help slow bone loss and reduce the risk of fractures.
Ways to Prevent Osteoporosis Fractures
While you can’t always prevent osteoporosis, there are things you can do to reduce the risk of fractures if you’ve been diagnosed with this condition.
In addition to medications and exercise, consider these steps to improve safety at home and reduce the risk of falls, which can lead to fractures:
Living with osteoporosiscan significantly impact your quality of life. Consider joining a support group, such as theOnline Osteoporosis Communitythrough American Bone Health, to connect with others with the same condition. Additional resources for living well with osteoporosis can be found online through theBone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation.
Lifestyle Changes to Prevent and Manage Osteoporosis
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Osteoporosis basics.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Osteoporosis.National Institute on Aging.Osteoporosis.NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Bone mass measurement: what the numbers mean.Harvard Health Publishing.Osteopenia: When you have weak bones but not osteoporosis.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Osteoporosis basics: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Harvard Health Publishing.Osteoporosis drugs: which one is right for you?Johns Hopkins Medicine.What you can do now to prevent osteoporosis.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Osteoporosis basics.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Osteoporosis.National Institute on Aging.Osteoporosis.NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Bone mass measurement: what the numbers mean.Harvard Health Publishing.Osteopenia: When you have weak bones but not osteoporosis.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Osteoporosis basics: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Harvard Health Publishing.Osteoporosis drugs: which one is right for you?Johns Hopkins Medicine.What you can do now to prevent osteoporosis.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Osteoporosis basics.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Osteoporosis.National Institute on Aging.Osteoporosis.NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Bone mass measurement: what the numbers mean.Harvard Health Publishing.Osteopenia: When you have weak bones but not osteoporosis.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Osteoporosis basics: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.Harvard Health Publishing.Osteoporosis drugs: which one is right for you?Johns Hopkins Medicine.What you can do now to prevent osteoporosis.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Osteoporosis basics.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Osteoporosis.
National Institute on Aging.Osteoporosis.
NIH Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center.Bone mass measurement: what the numbers mean.
Harvard Health Publishing.Osteopenia: When you have weak bones but not osteoporosis.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Osteoporosis basics: diagnosis, treatment, and steps to take.
Harvard Health Publishing.Osteoporosis drugs: which one is right for you?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.What you can do now to prevent osteoporosis.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
