Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy 2001;31(7) :359-367

Transient Osteoporosis of the Hip Associated with- Pregnancy William G.Boissonnault, P7; DHSc, FAAOMPT )ill S. Boissonnault, P7; MSZ --n..r-P--Um

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Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy® Downloaded from www.jospt.org at on January 20, 2017. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2001 Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy®. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND Osteoporosis is generally defined as an age-related disorder characterized by decreased bone mass and increased bone fragility in the absence of other recognizable causes of bone loss.I4 Osteoporosis, while occurring most commonly in Caucasian women over the age of 50 years, can occur at other points of the life cycle. During pregnancy, for example, transient osteoporosis is reported to occur in some women in the third trimester. In the women who develop transient osteoporosis, back, groin, hip, or lower extremity pain may result, and, in rare instances, this condition is manifested by bony fracture.lHPregnancy increases the demand on maternal skeleton stores, with 30 grams of calcium required for mineralization of the fetal ske1et0n.l"~ This calcium need is met by increased maternal bone resorption, decreased maternal bone formation, increased intestinal calcium absorption, and decreased urinary calcium excret i ~ nThe . ~maternal ~ ~ ~ skeleton calcium store is said to be 1000 grams, which is generally thought to be adequate to meet both maternal and fetal requirements.w.20The mechanism for the transient osteoporosis is not clear, as evidenced by the various theories and controversy over whether pregnancy and osteoporosis share a causal or accidental relationship. Dunne et a18 studied 35 women with known histories of pregnancy-related osteoporosis and found a statistically significant higher prevalence of fracture occurring at a younger age in the mothers of these women. This led them to speculate that osteoporosis in pregnant women may be associated with some speAssistant professor, Department of Surgery, Program in Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin-t~ladison,Madison, Wis. Program coordinator, Physical Therapy Department, Meriter Hospital Inc, Madison, Wis. Send correspondence to William G. Boissonnault, Program in Physical Therapy, 1300 University Avenue, Room 51 90, Madison, WI 53706. E-mail: boiss @surgery.wisc.edu I

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther-Volume 31 .Number 7*July 2001

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