Parkinson's and Osteoporosis: Why Bone Health Deserves Your Attention
Parkinson's Bone Health: The Overlooked Piece of Your Care Plan
We talk a lot in our sessions about movement, balance, and strength and for good reason. But there's a piece of the Parkinson's puzzle that doesn't get nearly enough attention: your bones.
A new review just published in JAMA is putting a spotlight on this, and Dr. Michael Okun (one of the most respected voices in Parkinson's care) called it out as one of the most important conversations happening in the field right now. I wanted to break it down for you in plain language, because this is genuinely something worth acting on.
Why Bones and Parkinson's Are More Connected Than You'd Think
Here's what the research is telling us:
Osteoporosis — weakened, more fragile bones — is about twice as common in people with Parkinson's, including in men. Most people don't think of PD as a "bone disease," so this often gets missed entirely.
Hip fractures in particular are a big deal. They're common in PD, and recovery is harder. The review noted that the year following a hip fracture carries a serious mortality risk — this isn't a minor injury to bounce back from.
It's a one-two punch. Parkinson's affects your bones in two ways at once: it can weaken the bone itself, and it increases your risk of falling in the first place (through balance changes, gait changes, and being less active overall). Weaker bones plus more falls is exactly the combination that leads to fractures.
There's even a biological connection — dopamine appears to play a role in how your bones rebuild and maintain themselves, which may help explain why this risk shows up so consistently in PD.
Why This Matters for You
The honest truth is that bone health is easy to overlook. It doesn't show up on a tremor scale. It's not usually the first thing your neurologist checks. And a lot of people (and providers) still think "just take calcium" is enough. It's not.
The research is clear: calcium alone isn't the answer. Real prevention means:
Getting your bone density actually checked (a DXA scan) rather than assuming it's fine
Talking to your doctor about your personal fracture risk, not just your bone density number
Treating osteoporosis proactively if it's found — not waiting until after a fracture happens
Making fall prevention a real part of your care plan, not an afterthought
Where This Fits Into What We Already Do Together
This is exactly why the work we do in our sessions balance training, weight-bearing movement, jumping, gait work, strength isn't just about feeling steadier day to day. It's protecting your skeleton, too. Every session is doing double duty.
But movement alone doesn't replace a bone density check. If you haven't had a DXA scan, or it's been a few years, this is worth raising with your doctor directly. You don't need to wait for someone to bring it up first, you're allowed to ask.
A Few Simple Next Steps
Ask your doctor (or pharmacist, if you're not sure where to start) whether you're due for a DXA scan
If you've had a bone density scan before, ask what your actual fracture risk score was and not just whether the bones were "okay"
Keep prioritizing weight-bearing movement and balance work it matters more than most people realize
If your home has fall hazards (loose rugs, poor lighting, no grab bars), this is a good time to address them
Protecting your brain has always been part of this journey. Protecting your skeleton deserves to be right up there with it.
Questions about how this applies to your specific program, or want a referral for a physio consult around balance and fall risk? Reach out to me directly, or connect with Tina for physiotherapy and personal training referrals.
Yours. inhealth,
Christine
Source: Commentary by Dr. Michael Okun on a recent JAMA review of bone health in Parkinson's disease, shared via Parkinson's Insights.
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