Spine Osteoporosis

[hey_look_its_dave]

I wanted to add something to this thread.

I've recently come to understand that bones grow when under strain. This is, at least in part, why osteophytes grow. Anyway, my DEXA scan showed great bone density for my spine but crappy density for my hip bones. I mentioned this to my GP and he immediately said, "Oh that's because you have an office job. You sit all day so your spine is loaded but your hips are not. If you stood all day, your hips would likely be as good as your spine." He suggested "resistance training" to beef-up bone mass.
What I do is I stand when watching TV and stand up as much as possible at work.

Wikipedia mentions a current theory that the reason bones grow when under strain has to do with the piezo-electric effect.

Dave

[Harrison]

Interesting, Dave. When you watch TV standing, are you in a “spine neutral” position? Knees slightly bent? Just curious.
On the piezo effect, that’s been researched for decades. Here’s a few links you may find of interest:

Piezoelectric Effect and Growth Control in Bone

Direct Current and Bone Growth
http://184.168.234.226/Matrix-pdfs/c...Growth-LSU.pdf

Both of these are dated. The second one is long and technical; but some parts remind me of the beneficial and healing effect of earthing (walking barefoot), since the earth “gives” us DC energy when we walk on it.

Perhaps this is a better summary:

Collagen Piezoelectric effect induce bone healing
http://www.ciasem.com/PSD/Cusco2007/...0_ferreira.pdf

There were some companies marketing cervical collars that induce magnetic fields to stimulate bone growth for fusion patients, I saw them in 2010 at a trade show. But I forgot who the mfr is for these.

[Harrison]

Dutifully Taking Your Calcium Pill? It May Be Too Much

While many people aren't getting enough calcium, new research cautions that some people may have the opposite problem: They could be getting too much.

Americans spend more than $1 billion a year on calcium supplements in hopes of staving off osteoporosis, the brittle bone disease that cripples many elderly women and some men.

Yet recent studies link calcium supplements to a higher risk of heart attacks and kidney stones. Last month, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force issued a draft recommendation against taking calcium and vitamin D, saying there wasn't enough evidence of benefit to justify the risk.

Full Article:

Dutifully Taking Your Calcium Pill? It May Be Too Much - WSJ.com

Check out the comments too. Very helpful.

[hey_look_its_dave]

I do try to stand in a pelvic tilt. Not easy. Also, I'm constantly doing knee-bends and shifting around a bit.