Abstract
Recently, there has been a renewed interest in the detection and treatment of osteoporosis. Dual photon absorptiometry was used for defining the osteoporotic syndrome in terms of bone mass, and for evaluating treatment regimens to prevent bone loss. Bone mineral measurements can be used to assess the risk of fracture and the severity of bone loss. This is valuable when used for monitoring longitudinally bone of patients in order to assess the progress of the disease and the effects of specific therapeutic regimens. There has been no established effective therapy for osteoporosis, so its prevention is the goal. Physical therapists often treat patients with osteoporosis or those who are at high risk of it. Consequently, to provide the optimum care, therapists must be knowledgeable about the disease process and the role of exercise for its prevention and management. A critical level of bone mineral density perhaps exists below that where nonweight-bearing exercises are effective and above that where the stress of weight-bearing is necessary. Bone strength is dependent on stresses induced by muscular and weight-bearing activity. Studies dealing with the response of bone to mechanical stress in gait, in addition to the role of exercise in the prevention of osteoporosis, were reviewed.
