By Ruchi Pradhan Datta
For the past year or so, I had started to develop severe aches and pains all over my body, so much so that since October – November ‘24, the pain in both my shoulders had become debilitating, restricting movement and normal activity to a large extent. Though I did visit a doctor and followed it up with a prolonged period of physiotherapy, in my mind I relegated it to being a diabetic, on the wrong side of fifty.
Moreover, as I spoke with several of my friends and colleagues in the same age bracket, I began to realise that the problem was more common than visible. The realisation was further driven home, when at a principals’ retreat in Mussoorie on the 4th of June, a coffee table conversation among school leaders meandered towards our deteriorating fitness levels, with most sharing anecdotes about their creaking joints and varying pains.
My mind also wandered towards my numerous travels across the globe, for work and leisure, where I had met several women my age but visibly fitter, more agile, and much more physically robust. Was it their genes, their lifestyle, or their diet, or all combined – I had to wonder! Probably, in our case more than the afore-mentioned reasons, the primary causes could be neglect and acceptance. Neglect, stemming from putting our needs at the bottom of the to-do list, whether it is dietary supplements or exercise and acceptance that degeneration is our fate and so be it!
This brought me to a chance interaction with Dr Manik Rana (Orthopaedic Surgeon, Graphic Era Hospital) and Pinaki Sen (an established fitness expert), who proposed to conduct a free bone, mineral density screening camp for seniors, especially post-menopausal women at The Asian School on 15 June, for the first half of the day. The school immediately accepted the idea and approved the Camp.
Both gave me very detailed causes and solutions to this problem of weakness of bones and muscles in the senior Indian population, especially ladies, and from what I understand the issue is manageable and can be considerably delayed, with some essential adjustments in diet, exercise and most importantly attitude – to which I plead, completely guilty. I will not delve into the medical details, here as I am not qualified to do so, but what can be stated with certainty is that prevention starts early, as early as girls reaching puberty and even for those of us, over fifty, the ship has not sailed yet and the situation can be arrested with the correct intervention – which I plan to adopt.
Therefore, refocussing on the BMD camp, the purpose, as informed by the doctor, is:
- To raise awareness about bone health in the elderly.
- To promote strength training and fitness, especially in women post-menopause.
- To highlight the role of nutrition—our typical Indian diet, unfortunately, is often deficient in micronutrients and protein, further worsening bone health.
- Emphasise that a sedentary lifestyle today can lead to fragile bones tomorrow.
Dr Manik also went on to inform us, “Osteoporosis is not just a medical condition—it’s a silent epidemic that is affecting our elderly, especially post-menopausal women. In our emergency department, nearly 70% of patients are geriatric, many of whom have suffered major hip, shoulder, or spine fractures after trivial falls. Having treated hundreds of such cases surgically, I have come to a stark realisation—poor bone health is widespread and severely under-recognised. In women, this often begins silently after menopause, and by the time it shows up in the form of a fracture, the damage is already significant.
These fractures do not just cause pain—they cause people to lose their independence, become bedridden, and tragically, reduce life expectancy. There is a clear correlation between such fractures and increased mortality.”
Adding further, he says, “While I continue to manage these injuries surgically, I now feel a strong need to shift the focus toward prevention and that is the purpose of this outreach.”
Here, adds Pinaki Sen, “Strength training is the way to go, and it is in no way to be confused with body building as exercises are designed to be age and tolerance specific.”
Therefore, to conclude, it is time we act early. Let us take responsibility for our bone health before it is too late. If you too identify with my opening lines, do not merely accept it, alter your diet, after proper consultation, meet an orthopaedic doctor, walk, join a good gym, lift weights and take charge of your life.
(Ruchi Pradhan Datta is a passionate educator with a strong background in journalism. Animal rights, feminism and nationalism are the values that she holds closest to her heart).
