Brittle bone disease or osteoporosis is a major health problem in South Africa, in young and old alike. In fact, more than a third of women over the age of 50 and nearly half of all individuals over 70 are affected by this disease.
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But the condition can be prevented and avoided. Investing in your bones whilst still in your teenage years or in your twenties and early thirties, so as to increase your bone density is optimal, but if you're beyond that - don't despair - it's not too late to make healthy lifestyle choices.
Exercise, and particularly running is a great way to increase bone density. To encourage people to get active for their bones' sake, the National Osteoporosis Foundation has teamed up with the Sports Science Institute's OptiFit Walk and Run Health Programme and Cape Technikon Athletic Club for their fourth annual road race.
The 'Invest in Your Bones' race ties in with October's International "Osteoporosis Awareness week" and takes place Wednesday 2 October 18h00 at the Pinelands Athletic Club in Cape Town.
There are two events, a flat and fast 10km road race and a 5km fun run. Entries will be taken from 17h00 and there are free goodie bags for first 800 entrants, great prizes, medals as well as free T-shirts for a random 200 finishers.
For more information, contact Sean Snyman (021) 461 2666 (a/h) or Kathy Mc Quaide at the Sports Science Institute on (021) 659 5631 (o) or e-mail kmcquaide@ssi.uct.ac.za. - (Health24)
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