Our 206 bones give our bodies structure and make movement
possible. But for postmenopausal women in particular, natural
changes in bone physiology can put freedom of movement at risk.
Contrary to popular notion, bone is a dynamic, living tissue
that is constantly undergoing a process called remodeling.
Remodeling consists of two major phases: - Bone resorption, or
breakdown. Bone cells called osteoclasts remove old and damaged
bone tissue. - Bone formation. Other bone cells called
osteoblasts and osteocytes create a new bone matrix (the web-
like, micro-architecture of bone), and use calcium, phosphorus,
and other minerals to harden the matrix. From birth until about
age 40, bone remodeling occurs in relative balance, building
bones that are hard, dense, and strong. But menopause marks a
major turning point in a woman's bone physiology. The steady
decline of estrogen combined with a subtle increase of
inflammatory markers after menopause may contribute to an
increase in bone resorption. Over time, this can mak