Osteopenia and Contact Sports - Osteoporosis Message Board

Allerian1004 · 01-11-2009, 05:26 PM

I'm a 25 year old with a history of lupus and chronic corticosteroid use. After my rheumatologists recommendation we decided to get a DEXA scan to get a baseline on where my bone density is. I've been off and on steroids for the past 4-5 years. I try to get a lot of calcium through food intake, and do exercise. I do taekwondo. My T-Scores were -0.8 for spine and -1.1 for femur/hip. So he said it will be read as mild osteopenia. I forgot to ask if I can still do contact sparring with taekwondo (I.e. kick and be kicked in combat). I don't want a fracture. (I had one last year in my foot that put me out for 5 months.)
Thanks
Julia

taape · 01-11-2009, 05:45 PM

Personally, I'd do a safer sport. It's not worth getting a fracture, your right about that. Plus, I found that it takes longer to heal the fracture because of the osteoporosis even though you've only got it mildly.

Allerian1004 · 01-11-2009, 06:02 PM

I fractured my left fifth metatarsal last year (foot bone) and they originally said it would take 6 weeks to heal... in reality it took me MUCH longer to heal. I really want to continue with Taekwondo until this summer. I am almost to black belt and once the summer starts I'll be starting rotations in medical school and I switch to something like elliptical and weights instead.

starfish81 · 01-12-2009, 01:05 PM

Well, just my opinion, but I don't think your scores are that bad. If you're enjoying the sports, I say carry on and don't worry about fracturing. If you have other medical issues, that, and not your density numbers, may be what increased your healing time.