Physical activity level and perceptions about exercise in patients with Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a major health concern around the world. Physical activity (PA) is an essential preventive and therapeutic approaches for osteoporosis. This investigation aims to evaluate PA level and of perceptions about exercise of osteoporosis patients, regarding (1) importance of exercise on osteoporosis condition (1E); (2) balance between exercise benefits and risks (B/R); (3) importance of participation in exercise programs (IP); (4) major risks (R); (5) major benefits (B). PA level of 73 postmenopausal Portuguese women (mean=74.3, SD=8.7 years) with diagnosed osteoporosis (T-score < - 2.5 by DXA) was assessed by IPAQ. A complementary questionnaire was designed to evaluate perceptions about exercise. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data. IPAQ analysis reported 21.9% high; 35.6% moderate and 42.5% low PA. 35.6% of patients consider that exercise has no impact in preventing osteoporosis evolution and 19.2% refers that it is only partially important. 63.0% considers that exercise has more disadvantages than benefits. About IP, 65.8% of women found daily activities more adequate then exercise programs. Main disadvantages reported (R) were risk of fall (87.7%) risk of bone injury (83.6%); risk of vertebral fractures (63.0%) and risk of increase pain (52.1%). Main benefits found were related to calcium fixation (83.6%); lower body weight (78.1%); increase bone density (69.9%); and increase muscular tonus (61.6%). Results suggest that the adherence to an active lifestyle is dependent on the capacity to change perceptions of osteoporosis patients about exercise. Exercise is medicine if patients acknowledge that exercise brings greater benefits than risks.