Have you sharpened your karate chops? Perhaps you should. A new study has found that martial arts training as a form of exercise may be an effective way for osteoporosis patients to learn to reduce the potential for falling injuries.
Researchers in the Netherlands measured hip impact forces during martial arts fall exercises, and they determined these exercises could safely be taught to patients with osteoporosis. Fully aware of the risks of performing these tests on seniors, researchers took their initial measurements from a group of six healthy people, asked to perform martial arts fall training exercises.
"Based on our results ... we believe that fall training would be safe for persons with osteoporosis if they wear hip protectors during the training, perform fall exercises on a thick mattress, and avoid forward fall exercises from a standing position," said researcher Brenda Groen.
Martial arts fall training teaches students how to avoid injury during a fall by manipulating their bodies. They lessen the impact of a fall by turning it into a rolling movement, tucking, and turning their necks and shoulders to avoid harm. Martial arts training also teaches people to sharpen their ability to react to a sudden threat and maintain their balance, skills that could also have benefits for injury-prone seniors.
Regular exercise also helps maintain bone density over time, so martial arts training could be an ideal addition to a senior's regular exercise program.
"Since martial arts techniques reduce hip impact forces and can be learned by older persons, martial arts fall training may prevent hip fractures among persons with osteoporosis," Groen concluded.
So while you probably won't be seeing bands of black-belted gray-haired ninjas roaming the streets, this study may provide reason enough for seniors to pick up a few tips that could help them fend off a fall.
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