Exercise for osteoporosis: A literature review of pathology and mechanism

Abstract

Osteoporosis (OP) is a disease that weakens bones and has a high morbidity rate worldwide, which is prevalent among the elderly, particularly, women of postmenopausal age. The dynamic balance between bone formation and resorption is necessary for normal bone metabolism. Many factors, including aging, estrogen deficiency, and prolonged immobilization, disrupt normal apoptosis, autophagy, and inflammation, leading to abnormal activation of osteoclasts, which gradually overwhelm bone formation by bone resorption. Moderate exercise as an effective non-drug treatment helps increase bone formation and helps relieve OP. The possible mechanisms are that exercise affects apoptosis and autophagy through the release of exercise-stimulated myohormone and the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines via mechanical force. In addition, exercise may also have an impact on the epigenetic processes involved in bone metabolism. Mechanical stimulation promotes bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to osteogenic differentiation by altering the expression of non-coding RNAs. Besides, by reducing DNA methylation, the mechanical stimulus can also alter the epigenetic status of osteogenic genes and show associated increased expression. In this review, we reviewed the possible pathological mechanisms of OP and summarized the effects of exercise on bone metabolism, and the mechanisms by which exercise alleviates the progression of OP, to provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of OP.

Circulating miR-340-5p and miR-506-3p as Two Osteo-miRNAs for Predicting Osteoporosis in a Cohort of Postmenopausal Women

“…Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease arising from a diseased condition that bone formation is overwhelmed by bone resorption and has a high morbidity rate among elderly individuals, particularly, women of postmenopausal age [ 1 , 2 ]. Osteoporosis and subsequent fractures involve half of women and one-fifth of men who are aged more than 50 years worldwide, leading to substantial morbidity and an unsatisfactory quality of life [ 3 ].…”

The effect of exercise post vertebral augmentation in osteoporotic patients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…38 Particularly, targeted weightbearing exercise reduces the risk of osteoporotic fracture by increasing bone mass and strength and improving risk factors for falling. 39,40 However, there is a documented fear of falling and fracture in osteoporotic patients after an initial incident 13 and medical team apprehension to place stress on healing bony structures after surgery may also discourage activity. 41 Spinal injury or pain in particular is also widely known to instil fear of movement or reinjury and foster activity avoidance.…”

“…In general, exercise has been shown to improve quality of life and reduce pain in patients with osteoporosis 38 . Particularly, targeted weightbearing exercise reduces the risk of osteoporotic fracture by increasing bone mass and strength and improving risk factors for falling 39,40 . However, there is a documented fear of falling and fracture in osteoporotic patients after an initial incident 13 and medical team apprehension to place stress on healing bony structures after surgery may also discourage activity 41 .…”

Reactive oxygen species-scavenging nanomaterials for the prevention and treatment of age-related diseases

“…Decreased bone density and degradation of bone tissue microstructure characterize osteoporosis (OP), a systemic and metabolic disease of aging. OP is characterized by increased OC activity relative to OB activity [ 184 ]. Patients with OP have a bone microenvironment characterized as immune imbalance and increased OS.…”