What is Osteogenesis Imperfecta?

Osteogenesis Imperfecta is a connective tissue disorder that is primarily characterized by brittle or fragile bones. With that being the case, when people think of exercise and working out, they will usually shy away if you’re also talking about fragile or brittle bones! These two are contradicting concepts.

However, exercise and working out is very important even for people who have fragile, brittle, or weak bones. It just has to be done safely!

I personally have Osteogenesis Imperfecta Type 1. It’s a mild form of the disorder, but nonetheless a factor when it comes to my exercise and working out. I lived most of my life scared of exercise and working out because I was afraid to break. Even after 70 fractures throughout my body.

The Magic of Exercise and Working Out

Once I discovered the magic in a healthier lifestyle, my bones became stronger. My muscles, which act as a shield around my bones, also became stronger.

The key here is to realize that exercise and working out, all in context of a general healthier lifestyle, is important to having stronger bones and a higher quality of life. This can be for someone with Osteogenesis Imperfecta or someone who may suffer from Osteoporosis or Osteopenia; both of which are also characterized by fragile or brittle bones.

Why Exercise and Workout With Fragile Bones?

Several medical studies have proven that resistance training in particular promotes bone growth. Putting calculated stress on bones stimulates them to generate more bone mass.

Another factor is maintaining a good body weight and carrying around extra or added weight or fat. Being heavier can cause issues with balance as well as putting additional unwanted strain on the bones and skeletal system.

Again, these highlight the importance of exercising and working out if you have brittle, fragile, or weak bones.

It’s a Challenge to Exercise and Workout With Brittle Bones

But it’s definitely a challenge and not very easy to think about exercising and working out if you have fragile, brittle or weak bones. I get it. I had the same perspective before I started.

I wish there would have been THIS blog post when I started my journey!

With all this said, here are 3 fun, safe, and effective exercises for someone with Osteogenesis Imperfecta. This can also be for those who have other disorders that make their bones fragile, brittle or weak.

SWIMMING

When we’re in the water, we’re gravity free! That means there is very little resistance against our body and bones. It doesn’t mean there is NO resistance, because we still need some resistance to exercise and workout.

YOGA

Even though this might seem like an out-of-this-world suggestion for someone with fragile, brittle, or weak bones, stick with me here. I understand how it looks at first because there are some pretty weird possess in yoga. However, with yoga, we’re given the space and opportunity to breathe, stretch and make it as gentle as we need it to be.

RESISTANCE BANDS

As stated earlier, doing resistance exercise and workouts is important for our bones; even if they are fragile, brittle, or weak. Having the resistance will stimulate our bones to generate more bone, which is the point! Have resistance also helps us build the all important muscle shield around our bones! The best part about using resistance bands for exercise and working out is that they are safer and easier to use than free weights. Much, much safer!

Get to Work

This will take some courage and possibly a switch in perspective to start exercising and working out if you have Osteogenesis Imperfecta (O.I.) – or one of the other disorders that leave you have fragile, brittle or weak bones.

But DON’T GIVE UP! We all have the opportunity to live our healthiest and achieve our own personal peak performance.

If you’d like to get some encouragement and some further tips on how to do it, get my book, “Disable Your Disability: Live the Healthy Life You Deserve!” here.

If you’re ready to get to work, join the fastest growing online adaptive fitness platform, #UNBREAKABLE Body, here. Oh yeah, by the way, IT’S FREE!

To discover more ways to get encouraged to live an #UNBREAKABLE life, head over to https://www.tonyjacobsen.com