Study: COVID-19 infection affects bone health! 3 ways to test and understand the quality of action

The cumulative number of people infected with the virus in Taiwan has exceeded 6 million, with tens of thousands of new confirmed cases reported daily. In addition to sequelae such as coughing and brain fog, Dr. Huang Zhaoshan, chairman of the Osteoporosis Association of the Republic of China (TOA), emphasized that an international study pointed out that infection with Covid-19 will promote the proliferation of inflammatory cells and affect bone health. This means that 1.94 million mature-age confirmed people in Taiwan are facing a mobility crisis!

An international study pointed out that infection with Covid-19 will promote the proliferation of inflammatory cells and affect bone health. This means that 1.94 million mature-age people in Taiwan who have been diagnosed with the disease are facing a mobility crisis!

During the epidemic prevention period, insufficient exercise will accelerate muscle loss and cause problems with mobility. According to the latest physician survey conducted by the Osteoporosis Association of the Republic of China (TOA), nearly 50% of people in Taiwan have mobility problems after the epidemic. Mobility is closely linked to bones, joints, and physical strength, and requires sufficient muscle mass to support the body. Low muscle mass is one of the risk factors for mobility disorders in the elderly, and is also significantly correlated with mortality.

Reminder: Two major threats in the post-epidemic era are revealed, and people over 50 years old who are diagnosed may face a crisis of mobility

Threat 1: Covid-19 infection affects bone health, 1.94 million mature-age confirmed cases may be affected

An international guideline for the treatment of osteoporosis during the epidemic mentioned that infection with Covid-19 will cause the proliferation of inflammatory cells and affect bone health. According to the Taiwan epidemic report statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, as of October 12, 2022, a total of 1.94 million people over the age of 50 in Taiwan have been infected with the virus. The sequelae of the new crown are not only coughing and brain fog, but the infection may also affect bone health! The study also calls for older people who have recovered from Covid-19 to undergo bone density tests. If they are found to be in a high-risk group, they should take appropriate measures to protect their bones as soon as possible.

Threat 2: Nearly 40% of older adults have reduced their exercise, which directly impacts muscle mass and bone health

In response to the escalating local epidemic in May 2021, Taiwan announced for the first time that it had entered the third level of epidemic alert. In order to reduce the risk of infection, people have reduced the frequency of daily activities such as going out for shopping and exercise. According to the Taiwan Trend Research survey on new life for epidemic prevention under the third alert level, among people over the age of 50, as many as 40.7% reduced their exercise, and 4.2% stopped exercising completely. Dr. Huang Zhaoshan reminds us that if walking activities are reduced for 14 days, muscles will obviously shrink by 1-4%. If the frequency of exercise is not increased, muscle mass may continue to be lost. In addition, foreign studies have also pointed out that subjects with reduced muscle mass have three times more abnormal bone health than those with normal muscle mass. The decrease in activity caused by epidemic prevention may directly impact the muscle mass of older people and increase the risk of bone health.

Survey: Nearly 50% of Taiwanese aged 50 and above face mobility crisis

Not only does research point out the threat to mobility in the post-epidemic era, clinical outpatient cases also show that people over 50 face mobility problems. Dr. Huang Zhaoshan pointed out that a 60-year-old woman was found to have low bone density and vitamin D deficiency during a physical examination a year ago. Later, due to the outbreak of the epidemic, she was worried about being infected, so she suspended follow-up visits and reduced the frequency of going out to buy groceries and taking walks in the park. One day the following year, he accidentally slipped in the bathroom and was sent to the hospital for treatment, where it was discovered that his bone health was deteriorating. In fact, such cases are common after the epidemic.

The Osteoporosis Association of the Republic of China (TOA) conducted a questionnaire survey among clinical physicians to understand whether people over 50 years old in Taiwan face mobility issues after the epidemic. The survey pointed out that before the epidemic, 38% of the people suffered from mobility problems, and after the epidemic, the number increased to nearly 50% of the people with symptoms such as reduced bone support or joint function. In addition, 35% of the people have experienced worsening mobility problems after the epidemic. Dr. Huang Zhaoshan further explained that some people are afraid that going to and from the hospital will increase the risk of infection, so they interrupt their treatment and neglect to supplement vitamin D, calcium, and take in enough protein. Since bones are silent organs, many people have fallen into a mobility crisis without knowing it.

Three ways to check your mobility immediately (Photo courtesy of the Osteoporosis Society of the Republic of China)

3 ways to test your ability to act

In order to help people check their own mobility, the Osteoporosis Association of the Republic of China (TOA) has launched three measures to test mobility, so that people can understand their mobility simply by following them at home:

The first move: Half squat against the wall and see if you can straighten your back.

The second move: Stand without bending your knees, and see if your hands can easily touch the ground.

The third move: Stand on one leg with both hands raised horizontally. Can you maintain this without shaking for 10 seconds?

Dr. Huang Zhaoshan called for maintaining the good habit of regular exercise and balanced nutrition, regardless of whether the three mobility test methods can be done easily or feel strenuous. Supplementing with high-quality protein such as whey protein after exercise can further enhance the effect of exercise, effectively help develop bones, joints, and physical strength, and maintain good mobility.