Osteoporosis

Definition

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease of the skeletal system characterized by reduced bone density and changes in bone structure. With osteoporosis, bone stability, elasticity and microarchitecture are lost, making bones more susceptible to fractures. This condition is one of the most common metabolic bone diseases and affects millions of people worldwide, especially in an aging population.

In medical terminology, osteoporosis is also referred to as bone loss. It is closely associated with terms such as bone mineral density, bone resorption, bone mass and bone quality. Osteoporosis is considered a systemic skeletal disease that affects the entire bone metabolism. Osteoporosis is divided into two main forms:

• Primary osteoporosis: Primary osteoporosis develops without an identifiable underlying disease, usually age-related (senile osteoporosis) or hormonally due to estrogen deficiency after menopause. It is the most common form (approx. 95%) of bone loss.
• Secondary osteoporosis: Secondary osteoporosis develops as a result of other diseases (e.g., due to hormonal disorders) or due to medications (e.g., corticosteroids). Here the underlying cause is the focus.

Osteoporosis is a relevant topic in health education, medical diagnostics (e.g., DXA measurement, bone density measurement) and health policy, because it has significant effects on quality of life, mobility and the need for care.

Causes of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis – often medically also referred to as bone loss – is one of the most common bone diseases worldwide. It develops over many years as bone density gradually decreases and bones become more fragile. The causes of osteoporosis are diverse, but at the center is an imbalance between bone resorption and bone formation. Normally, the porous bone substance is constantly renewed, but in osteoporosis this balance is disturbed. Bone-resorbing processes outweigh bone-forming processes, leading to a reduction in bone density.

A decisive factor in the loss of bone density is hormonal change. Women after menopause are particularly affected, as the drop in estrogen levels accelerates bone resorption. This explains why the disease occurs more frequently in older women. Men can also develop osteoporosis, usually later and often in connection with additional risk factors. A lack of essential nutrients also contributes significantly to bone loss in old age. Without sufficient calcium and vitamin D, the body cannot adequately support bone formation. This is why the supply of minerals plays a central role. In practice, a long-term deficiency of calcium or vitamin D is one of the decisive causes of osteoporosis. Other triggers are chronic diseases that can lead to so-called secondary osteoporosis. These include hormonal disorders such as hyperthyroidism, diabetes or Cushing’s syndrome. Long-term use of certain medications also plays a role – above all corticosteroid preparations. These osteoporosis risk factors significantly accelerate bone resorption and can explain osteoporosis in younger people.

Lifestyle factors should not be underestimated either: lack of exercise, smoking, heavy alcohol consumption and low body weight additionally promote osteoporosis. Inactivity osteoporosis is a term that highlights that lack of physical activity weakens bone massively. Research increasingly points to the importance of exercise and nutrition to prevent the disease.

Symptoms of osteoporosis

The symptoms of osteoporosis depend greatly on individual factors such as the extent of bone loss, overall physical condition, existing osteoporosis risk factors and personal pain perception. Many affected people notice no complaints for a long time, so a diagnosis of osteoporosis is often made late. An osteoporosis test or special examination methods such as bone density measurement can provide important clues. Nevertheless: for a definitive assessment, medical advice should always be sought. Below are the typical symptoms of bone loss. The list of osteoporosis symptoms is not exhaustive but illustrates the most common complaints associated with bone loss in old age.

• Nonspecific back pain: Persistent or recurrent back pain, often aggravated by small movements, is among the first signs.
• Loss of height: Due to compression of vertebral bodies, many affected people experience a measurable loss in stature.
• Increased bone fractures: Even minor falls or strains can lead to fractures – a typical sign of fragile bones.
• Spinal curvature (kyphosis): The so-called “dowager’s hump” is caused by the collapse of several vertebral bodies and is a visible sign of advanced osteoporosis.
• Sudden shooting pains: Acute osteoporosis pain can occur with vertebral or hip fractures.
• Reduced mobility: Pain and instability reduce mobility, making everyday life significantly more difficult.
• Pain in the hip or groin area: Local pain often indicates fractures or instability in this region.
• Shoulder pain and neck complaints: These can result from poor posture when the spine is deformed by bone loss.
• Chronic muscle tension: Due to protective postures and instability, many affected people develop tense muscles in the back and neck area.
• Joint complaints: Although the bone is primarily affected, people with osteoporosis report joint pain due to altered loading.
• Gait instability and balance disorders: Fractures and pain-related guarding lead to walking insecurity and an increased risk of falls.
• Numbness or tingling: These complaints arise when nerves are compressed by changes in the vertebral bodies.
• Fatigue and general weakness: Chronic pain, lack of exercise and the risk of fractures often lead to reduced vitality.
• Rib fractures with breathing difficulties: In advanced osteoporosis spontaneous rib fractures are possible, causing pain when breathing.
• Psychological strain: Anxiety, depression or social withdrawal are not uncommon when osteoporosis symptoms severely restrict life.

Osteoporosis symptoms usually develop gradually. Therefore it is important to take early signs seriously and clarify them with a bone density measurement or other examination methods. Through early prevention, osteoporosis pain and disease progression can be positively influenced.

Conventional therapies – what helps with osteoporosis?

To effectively treat or ideally prevent osteoporosis, there are different therapeutic approaches. The primary goal is to slow bone loss, stabilize or increase bone density and reduce the risk of fractures. In addition to treating osteoporosis itself, preventing new fractures is important. Below are various conventional osteoporosis treatment options. Often different approaches are combined to achieve the best possible osteoporosis therapy. The list is not exhaustive but illustrates common therapy options.

• Calcium and vitamin D supplements: Adequate supply of calcium and vitamin D is a cornerstone of osteoporosis therapy. It supports bone formation and helps prevent fractures.
• Drug therapy for osteoporosis: The use of osteoporosis medications is part of standard treatment. They inhibit bone resorption and strengthen bone structure.
• Hormone replacement therapy: In postmenopausal women, estrogen treatment can help counteract the causes of increased bone resorption.
• Physiotherapy and exercise training: Targeted exercises improve posture, coordination and muscle strength – important to avoid falls and relieve osteoporosis pain.
• Occupational therapy: Helps affected people manage daily activities safely despite osteoporosis.
• Orthopedic aids: Special insoles, braces or walking aids can provide stability and reduce pain during the course of osteoporosis.
• Pain therapy: In addition to classic pain medication, there are specific pharmacological approaches to treat osteoporosis pain.
• Healthy diet: A balanced diet with calcium, vitamin D and protein is important to help increase bone density.
• Strength training: Strength training imposes tension and compression on bones. This stimulus activates bone cells and promotes the formation of new bone mass – a central component of osteoporosis treatment.
• Surgery for fractures: In severe cases or for fractures in the spine or hip, surgical measures are part of osteoporosis treatment.
• Fall prevention: Measures to avoid falls – e.g., home modifications or balance training – are also part of conventional osteoporosis therapy.
• Nursing measures: In the context of osteoporosis care, affected people are helped to control pain, maintain mobility and manage everyday life as independently as possible.
• Regular checks: Repeated bone density measurements or other examination methods help monitor progression and tailor osteoporosis treatment individually.

kybun mode of action – what helps with osteoporosis?

kybun products target the areas where many problems for people with osteoporosis arise: reduced mobility, increased fall risk, muscle weakness, bone loss and pain due to decreased bone density. Thanks to the elastic-springy sole, kybun shoes relieve the musculoskeletal system on the one hand and promote a natural, active walking motion on the other. This combination can help gently strengthen muscles, improve circulation and stabilize balance – important factors in osteoporosis therapy. Walking on the kybun material also trains the deep muscles and improves posture, which contributes to osteoporosis treatment and can increase quality of life in daily life. Thus kybun shoes offer valuable support in everyday life to maintain mobility and reduce the risk of falls.

• Promotion of movement and reduction of sedentary behavior

  Regular movement is one of the central osteoporosis treatment options to slow bone resorption and promote bone formation. Lack of exercise, on the other hand, increases the risk of osteoporosis symptoms such as pain or reduced mobility. The elastic-springy kybun shoes encourage joy in movement because dynamic standing and walking gently activate and relieve the musculoskeletal system. Through this osteoporosis therapy, not only are muscles trained, but circulation is stimulated and mobility promoted. kybun products can thus help reduce the amount of sitting time in daily life – an important aspect to prevent osteoporosis or positively influence its progression. Below are the positive effects associated with movement promotion through kybun products.

• Activation and strengthening of muscles through elastic-springy properties

  An elastic-springy surface can promote targeted activation and strengthening of muscles and thereby contribute significantly to the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. When walking and standing on a yielding, unstable surface, the muscles – especially in the feet, legs, pelvis and trunk – must constantly perform small compensatory movements to maintain balance. This reflexive activation mainly trains the deep muscles, which are crucial for stability, posture control and unloading the bones. Through continuous use, not only the strength of individual muscle groups improves but also their coordination, which significantly supports movement safety and fall prevention in bone loss.
  The activation of foot muscles plays a particularly important role. The feet are the base of posture and contribute decisively to force transmission and shock absorption with each step. Well-trained foot muscles stabilize the foot arch, support overall body mechanics and help reduce malalignment that is often associated with pain or fractures in osteoporosis.
  
  Through improved muscular activity, the knees, hips and spine are additionally stabilized. This stabilization has a positive effect on bone density and protection against overload. Due to the slow, controlled sinking of the heel into the elastic-springy material, a myofascial pre-tension is also created that relieves the musculoskeletal system and distributes force impact on the bones evenly. In this way, not only can osteoporosis pain be alleviated, but the mobility and quality of life of people with osteoporosis can be improved in the long term.

Balance and EMG

Balance ability was measured with a force plate by recording the movement of the center of mass from front to back (ant-post) and side to side (med-lat) while standing. In parallel, an electromyography (EMG) recorded muscular activity.

• Reduction of force impact from hard, flat floors through damping effect

  Hard, flat floors transmit impact forces directly through the feet to the knees, hips and spine with every step. These repeated microloads can further stress an already weakened bone structure in people with osteoporosis and increase the risk of pain or fractures. When walking in kybun shoes, the elastic-springy material of the sole is compressed. Through the so-called rebound effect, part of the occurring forces is absorbed and gently released again for the rolling motion. This results in effective damping that reduces peak loads on bones, joints and the spine.
  This damping effect relieves bones, which are less shock-resistant in age-related bone loss, and supports their natural function as a load-bearing and supporting system. Importantly: because the heel sinks slowly into the elastic sole, the body has more time to activate stabilizing muscle groups. This improves baseline muscle tension, which leads to better joint guidance, thus contributing to a reduction in fall risk and a decrease in mis- and overload of the bones.

• Natural foot roll thanks to muscle activation and rolling function

  On heel strike in kybun shoes, the elastic-springy material is gently compressed. Because of this slower sinking, the moment of maximum force impact is delayed. This time gain allows the muscles to become active in time and set the foot down in a controlled manner. The resulting activation stabilizes the foot arch and utilizes its natural shock-absorbing function – a significant advantage for people with osteoporosis because sensitive bones, knees and hip joints are relieved.
  On the other hand, the delayed sinking at heel strike in kybun shoes with the associated muscle activation enables a natural rolling movement from the heel through the midfoot to the forefoot. Active roll-off promotes a fluid and secure gait, distributes load more evenly across the musculoskeletal system and strengthens joint mobility. This is particularly important in osteoporosis because protective postures and insecure walking increase the risk of misloading and falls.
  The natural roll-off not only protects the bones but also improves the supply of the musculoskeletal system through enhanced circulation. More on this in the following section.

• Optimized pressure distribution

  The elastic-springy kybun products enclose the entire sole evenly and thus ensure optimized pressure distribution. Especially in osteoporosis, where bones and joints are more sensitive, this even loading reduces the risk of overuse. The dynamic adaptation of the contact area reduces pressure peaks and thus protects joints and the spine from mis- and overload. The broader weight distribution results in a more stable posture, thereby reducing falls and hence the risk of bone fractures.

• Care and protection of the fascia

  Walking on an elastic-springy surface can not only relieve the joints but also care for and protect the fascia – the connective tissue network that links muscles, bones and organs. In osteoporosis, a healthy fascial structure plays an important role as it supports bone stability and can reduce misloading.
  The gentle, rhythmic and springy impulses during walking promote blood circulation, fluid exchange in the fascial layers and the removal of metabolic waste. This helps to dissolve or prevent adhesions and hardenings. If fascia are underloaded or loaded asymmetrically – for example due to prolonged sitting or monotonous movements – they lose elasticity and glide, which can lead to tension, reduced mobility and increased strain on the musculoskeletal system.
  In bone loss, fascial hardening can additionally contribute to uneven transmission of pressure onto bones and joints. This increases the risk of pain or even fractures. The elastic-springy surface, on the other hand, encourages the body to move naturally and smoothly, mobilizes fascia, keeps them elastic and thus also relieves the bones.
  By strengthening the fascial network in its function, it can, among other things, stabilize the spine, distribute pressure more evenly and maintain mobility. This can not only relieve complaints but also reduce the risk of injuries in osteoporosis.

• Improved circulation through increased activity

  Walking and standing on an elastic-springy surface gently stimulates physical activity. This leads to improved blood flow throughout the musculoskeletal system, including muscles, joints and surrounding tissues. Good circulation is particularly important in osteoporosis because it promotes the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the bones and facilitates the removal of metabolic waste.
  Since bones in osteoporosis are more susceptible to resorption processes and fractures, improved microcirculation plays a crucial role in maintaining bone quality. Fascia and muscles also benefit: they remain elastic, regenerate better and can thereby further relieve and stabilize the bone.
  Overall, circulation improvement through movement on an elastic-springy surface can significantly contribute to maintaining bone and muscle function in osteoporosis and improving everyday quality of life.

Usage tips for osteoporosis

Before you wear kybun shoes for the first time, you should consider some tips for use. Proper use can help relieve the bones and promote stability in everyday life.

• Start slowly: Begin with short wearing times and increase them step by step. Your body – especially muscles, bones and joints – needs time to adapt to the elastic-springy surface. Take breaks if you feel tired or experience discomfort.
• Use gentle cushioning: Consciously press the heel into the elastic-springy material on heel strike. The special cushioning of kybun shoes reduces impact and thus protects bones, joints, ligaments and muscles.
• Practice calm roll-off: Roll the foot evenly from heel over midfoot to forefoot. Avoid jerky or tense movements. A smooth movement sequence supports balance and reduces the risk of misloading.
• Promote stability: Start with small rather than large steps – this increases safety and prevents falls, especially with osteoporosis. The elastic-springy material may feel unstable at first. This intended instability activates muscles, trains balance and reduces fall risk in the long term. If the instability is initially too strong, we recommend a sole with a lower training effect or first walking exercises in safe terrain.
• Improve coordination and mobility: Over time you can try to consciously roll off over the forefoot. This gently activates muscles, fascia and joints, which in the long term promotes mobility and coordination. If there are limitations, reduce the roll-off accordingly.