Why Bone and Joint Health Matters
When we think about staying healthy, we often focus on heart health, eating well, and getting enough exercise. But bone and joint health? That part of the body often gets forgotten. Our bones and joints are essential to nearly everything we do—from walking and running to sitting down and standing back up. They’re made of living tissues that need care and attention, just like the rest of your body. Healthy bones give our bodies structure, and healthy joints allow us to move easily and without pain. Together, they keep us active, independent, and thriving. Let’s take a closer look at two women and how their bone and joint health has affected their lives.
Kathy’s Story
Meet Kathy. Kathy is 68 years old and living her best life. She was always active as a kid and played soccer throughout school, even playing with the boys team to help them out. When Kathy was in her early twenties, she listened to her mother talk about brittle bones and something called osteoporosis. This disease ran in her family and seemed dangerous—causing hip fractures, hospital stays, and sending her grandma to the nursing home. She decided then and there that she was going to be the one in her family to end the brittle bone cycle! After talking to her mother and doing some research of her own, Kathy started paying more attention to what she ate and the exercise she was getting. She added things like leafy greens, salmon, and beans to her diet and began using light wrist and ankle weights on her walks to increase her weight-bearing movement. Around age 55, Kathy talked to her doctor about her bone health and got scheduled for a DEXA scan. Now that Kathy is in her late sixties, she’s able to proudly say that her bones are still strong and healthy. She’s able to move throughout the world with confidence, playing with her grandkids, going on jogs with her kids, and volunteering at her local animal shelter. She’s so glad she decided to take care of her bones in her twenties.
Rose’s Story
Meet Rose. Rose is what she calls your “average” 62 year old. Her parents always told her to drink her milk as a kid, so she did because she wanted to build strong bones. Once she was done growing, she thought she didn’t need calcium and vitamin D any more. Rose enjoyed horseback riding at her grandparents’ farm, and never broke a bone, even through many falls. She continued her hobby of horseback riding through adulthood and noticed that her knees started to ache more and more. With that pain, Rose went horseback riding less and less. Before she knew it, her kids were the only ones riding the horses while she waited in the barn. Even though she stopped horseback riding, her knees still ache. She went to her doctor who recommended physical therapy for her arthritis and a DEXA scan to check on her bone density. Movement is really helping Rose’s arthritis, and she’s now able to go on trail rides with her kids again; however, her DEXA scan showed mild osteopenia, and she’s trying to regain bone mass any way she can. She’s added a vitamin D and calcium supplement to her daily routine and really hopes it’s enough.
Two Stories, Two Outcomes
It’s never too early OR too late to start taking care of your bones and joints. Our bones and joints are crucial to our daily lives. Healthy bones and joints allow us to maintain healthy, independent, and active lives long into our adulthood. It’s up to you to take care of them by eating a healthy diet full of vitamin D and calcium and including weight-bearing movement into your daily routine. No matter where you are in life’s journey, it’s always a good time to take care of your bones and joints!
