As for Siver Sneakers, they pay everything including yoga classes. You sign up one time and they give you a,membership card to scan or you scan the silver sneakers card, depending on the gym. No paperwork or anything else. Just walk in, scan your card and do whatever you like for as long as you like. Great program. SharonM

I have a light cross the shoulder bag. I have my big bag in the trunk and put only the few things I immediately need in the small purse and that’s what I use. I can fit a phone, small change purse w/ credit card and bills and my car key. This helps and I always have my big purse in case I need something else.

My physical therapist strongly warned against using the spine, neck and back muscles to hold weight. He advised me to carry items using both arms, hugging the item to my chest. It serves twofold: Using arms to carry the weight, one doesn’t rely on the spine and neck to do that; further it maintains balance by centering the weight, preventing spinal and cervical injuries and falls. Carrying a hangbag across the torso would throw off balance.

I have been following my P.T.’s instructions and notice a big difference in that I no longer slouch to the right (the side I would use to carry my bag) when I walk.

I am doing exactly what JanetDrozda does for the exact same reasons, plus, my P.T.therapist bluntly told me that without daily P.T. from here on out, my spine and back muscles would further weaken, causing my spine to strain from holding up the back muscles with its osteoporotic vertabrae, producing more fractures from the strain and fatigue. So I start each morning with the list of exercises he gave me to do, which consist of Pilates and yoga. Takes about 20 minutes but the difference is immediate; my spine feels “open,” and my clavicle and lumbar muscles feel ready for the day.

However, as Janet also pointed out, I, too, must keep tabs on how much I walk daily or I experience the same symptoms she describes. If I overdo it, I have to rest the next day.

There’s a lot of pain, RX, RX side effects, and physical monitoring when you have osteoporosis. Nobody tells you this. I had to discover it on my own.

And a p.s.: My therapist also had me stop carrying my shoulder bag, purse, et.al., on my shoulder. It makes sense why: You’re putting more weight—and therefore strain—on your spine and back muscles, further weakening your vertebrae unnecessarily. It also rapidly produces scoliosis in people with osteoporosis.

I read this on line 3 different timesyour supposed to stomp you leg down like your crushing a can 2 to 4 times daily on each leg supposed to help your hips