What is osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition in which our bones become lighter and more fragile. The process can stay invisible for years. From our thirties on we are naturally going to lose some bone tissue. Nevertheless, the rates are different for different people. Genes play a part but a lot depends on lifestyle as well.
According to the Royal Osteoporosis Society osteoporosis and broken bones are more common in women than men. The bones lose strength at a faster rate after the menopause due to decrease in oestrogen levels (this is the hormone that helps keep bones strong). Women also tend to have smaller bones than men in the first place.
NHS data shows that 2% of women aged 50 and over have osteoporosis. The prevalence rises to 25% in women over 80. Osteoporosis affects over 3 million people in the UK. More than 500,000 people receive hospital treatment for fragility fractures.
How does Thai massage help with osteoporosis
Research on the effect of massage therapy on bone metabolism in adults is scarce. A study of the effect of Thai massage on postmenopausal women was published in 2013 in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. It found that Thai massage leads to improvement in one of the markers of bone formation, a peptide called P1NP, especially in women who are older and have a smaller body build.
The volunteers in the study received 2-hour Thai massage treatments twice a week for a period of 4 weeks.
According to the researchers, there are two possible main reasons for these results. First of all, Thai massage uses pressure and puts mechanical load on the body and the bones. Our bodies respond to loading by increasing bone mass. And second, Thai massage can help with osteoporosis by affecting bone indirectly through the central nervous system.
A few considerations
Although this study is small and has several other limitations it still comes to remind us that our bodies react to loading. One of the factors for loss of bone mass is decreasing the load on the body as we age in the first place. So it makes perfect sense that to keep our bones healthy we need to keep moving and using our bodies in a variety of ways. Regular massage is one way to take care of ourselves.
We see bones as static structures. But they are constantly remodelled to cope with the body’s calcium requirements, to repair microscopic damage and in response to our daily activities. The entire skeleton is replaced every 10 years in adults. Isn’t that amazing!
So stay active and come for a massage every once in a while!
References:
Saetung, S., Chailurkit, Lo. & Ongphiphadhanakul, B. Thai traditional massage increases biochemical markers of bone formation in postmenopausal women: a randomized crossover trial. BMC Complement Altern Med 13, 69 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-13-69
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