Even though we haven’t solved all parts of the mystery of what causes scoliosis, we do know that certain groups of people are more prone to developing scoliosis and osteoporosis.
And… one of the most at-risk groups for developing scoliosis is young female athletes.
This is often surprising to many people because we usually think of athletes as the least prone to get sick or develop illnesses like scoliosis because they’re so healthy.
But, the truth is young female athletes in high stress levels generally have very high rates of scoliosis and osteoporosis.
Join
me in the coming days as we discuss why female athletes are at a higher risk for
developing scoliosis and osteoporosis, and some of the reasons why.
We Take the Fear and Worry Out of Scoliosis
Dr. Art Copes
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February 9, 2008
So, now we know young female athletes are at a higher risk for developing scoliosis and osteoporosis. But why?
Let’s take a look…
We know certain types of women who exercise excessively, strive to keep low body weights. These types of women include female athletes who train excessively, dancers, and gymnasts. There dietary thoughts are too reduce caloric uptake…. Right?
Protein and carbohydrates are often sacrificed in keeping their weight in the proper boundaries. This dietary action gives them the desired result, weight control…but pushes the body’s hormonal system is in a catabolic state.
If no substances are eaten (calcium, magnesium, potassium…), to keep the heart, and brain function going, the hormonal system is forced to steal nutrition from the bones and muscles… osteoporosis? This double, triple, stress load causes the endocrine system to shift in the scoliosis athletes.
Continue reading "Osteoporosis in Scoliosis –Why Female Athletes Are At Risk: Part 2" »
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February 12, 2008
Let’s take a look at how hypoestrogenism, or the stopping of menstruation, is linked to scoliosis and osteoporosis.
When a young female athlete exercises excessively the cortisol hormone is driven up. You may know this hormone by the fight or flight actions. During high stress levels, fear, anger, vigorous exercise, restriction (lack) of food; the body is programmed to sustain life. Simply stated, during times of stress your hormone increases your heart rate, increases eye and ear sensory, enlightens your CNS and muscles. With this increased state, your body’s hormone pulls the needed minerals and substances from the bones. During this same period the body slows down or inhibits the digestive and reproductive systems.
Cortisol is dominate to estrogen, and plays a leading role of production. With constant exercise stress, the scoliosis athlete’s estrogen is lowered, thus hyproestrogenism occurs.
And… a lower estrogen level puts these young female athletes at a higher risk for developing osteoporosis – a condition linked to scoliosis.
Continue reading "Osteoporosis in Scoliosis –Why Female Athletes Are At Risk: Part 3" »
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February 14, 2008
Oftentimes, thyroid disease, or an increase in thyroid function, leads to osteoporosis in people with scoliosis.
There are several types of thyroid disease, well look at the two most familiar:
· Hypothyroidism – the production of too little thyroid hormone
· Hyperthyroidism – the production of too much thyroid hormone
The type of thyroid disease associated with osteoporosis in people with scoliosis varies as time and condition changes. Early in one’s teens you may have a slight over active thyroid, thin in stature, active and sleep challenges (night owl).
Continue reading "Scoliosis, Osteoporosis, and Thyroid Disease – Part 1" »
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February 16, 2008
Let’s continue to take a look at how thyroid disease and thyroid function affect osteoporosis in people with scoliosis by examining the link between hyperthyroidism and osteoporosis.
Simply stating the thyroid controls your metabolic rate, how fast your body burns energy, makes other different protein, and regulates the sensitivity of additional hormones. The primary hormones of the thyroid are T4 (thyroxine), and T3 (triiodothyronine). These two hormones affect the growth and the rate of function of many other systems. Iodine is an essential component of both T 4 and T3.
Many persons with scoliosis have a low Iodine level, both in teen and adult years. The thyroid also produces a hormone called calcitonion. Calcitonion plays a role in calcium absorption from the gut and calcium balance of the body.
If you remember in my earlier writings I stated that the person with scoliosis has poor calcium absorption from the gut. Now… what if you have a low Iodine level present? What happens to T3 and T4 functions? And or combined with a low digestive enzymes in the intestines? Would this affect the protein uptake for bone formation? Could this lead to osteoporosis, or down line scoliosis curve acceleration?
Continue reading "Scoliosis, Osteoporosis, and Thyroid Disease – Part 2" »
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February 19, 2008
Let’s wrap up our overview of how thyroid disease and thyroid function affects osteoporosis in people with scoliosis by taking a look at what you need to know to protect yourself.
In the disease of osteoporosis and scoliosis, adolescent or adult, the proper hormone level should be checked, the thyroid and parathyroid function. The analysis should consist of T3, T4, TSH, PTH, vitamin D and calcitonion levels. Lets not forget the trace elements of calcium, magnesium, iodine, boron, and potassium. Your doctor may have additions that may be suggested, so…
The most important thing people with scoliosis need to do is to protect themselves from developing osteoporosis as a result of thyroid disease and to get tested.
Continue reading "Scoliosis, Osteoporosis, and Thyroid Disease – Part 3" »
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