cemc,

WRT to "weight bearing exercise" - the current recommendation for OP risk reduction is not so much weight bearing as was thought until about 10 years ago - rather it is "resistance exercise".

Just a flying visit through KA of late, so don't have free time to go hunt studies for you...

In essence - it has been found that it is the action of the muscles contracting hard on the entheses (insertion sites) during resistance exercise that leads to trabecular reinforcement within the bony structure.

Go talk to your local PT about getting some Therabands and get the PT to design a programme of exercises modified for your specific needs / capabilities. Lots of bridging and modified 'planking' are good for both core strength and lower limb OP risk reduction. Don't neglect the upper limb bones - you have a whole set of hand weights in your pantry.....and all this FREE OF CHARGE and appropriate in any weather!

Gotta fly - despite my better judgement, I have taken in a stray - well, not really - I have a French exchange student staying with us for 2 months - a temporary sister for my own DD.

Louise, thanks for the heads up about resistance exercise. Am still going to have problems with that at the moment (but good to know for future), as I have flares of "tendonitis" (or enthesitis) at the drop of a hat at the moment, since I had to go off NSAIDs. Am seeing rheumatologist in 4-6 weeks time, so really hoping I can get some kind of antiinflammatory treatment going again, and then can get back to a gym programme.

I actually have some hand weights - the real ones are easier for me to grip than the free ones in the pantry, but just minimal exercise with those was flaring my elbows and wrists. So annoying that I can't take anything at the moment to knock this inflammaton, and that it is still ages to wait.

I haven't had much luck with physio here. First one was a neurophysio who wanted me to do stuff for core stability that absolutely wrecked my lower back (wobble cushions and things). Next one kept getting me to try and walk up and down the corridor, while nodding his head and saying he didn't know what was going on, but my gait was unusual, then gave me a single exercise to do that again wrecked my lower back. Latest one has been working on the theory that I can't walk because I've forgotten how from too much crutch use, and every set of exercises she tried have made me flare horribly. With her agreement have given up until such time as I get a new medication plan, then will try again. While I was able to take NSAIDs I was doing a gym programme with a wee bit of cycling, some rowing, some light weights, lots of range of movement stretching, and a wee bit on the elliptical machine. If I took care how I positioned my body on the machines, it all worked really well for me. Can't do any of that right now.