I was asked to review this DVD by someone in the NOF Support Community. Here are my comments.
"In general, this is a very well-done DVD and is very informative in many areas. It appears to have been specifically designed for public viewing and showing the exercises done in someone’s home was a novel idea. It sort of shows that, you too, can do this wherever you are at home with just a few tools—a chair and a couple of hand weights.
The title of the DVD is Preventing Osteoporosis and I think that is somewhat misleading. Prevention begins in childhood and some would say before birth. The idea that prevention could begin in one’s 30’s or 40’s is not accurate. At that age, bone health is pretty well set and prevention would center around minimizing or preventing the risks of the secondary consequences of osteoporosis—fracture, body height loss, postural change, etc.—rather than the condition itself. The exercises are fairly generic and not specific to bone itself nor to the areas of the body most at risk for fracture—the vertebral bodies and the neck of the femur. As such, I view this DVD as a well-done version of many exercises that have been promoted not only for osteoporosis but for other health issues as well.
There are no precautions given for movement. This is probably due to the fact that it is titled Preventing Osteoporosis and meant for people who don’t have osteoporosis. The only problem with that is osteoporosis is largely a silent disease and many people have it and don’t know it. Exercises include a spinal roll-up and abdominal crunches, both of which would be contra-indicated for persons with osteoporosis. In addition, abdominal crunches have been shown in a research study (Richardson et al 1990) to be the least effective lower abdominal strengthening exercises among a group of 8 that were tested. The DVD indicates that the exercises are for the core. This is misleading and incorrect.
Aside from the two exercises mentioned, there is nothing else that would be overtly contra-indicated or dangerous. However, there is nothing that strengthens the back extensors and hip abductors, two of the most important muscle groups to help prevent fractures in patients with osteoporosis.
In summary, it is a well-done DVD. The section on exercise has two exercises that would be contra-indicated in persons with osteoporosis, nothing specific for the primary muscles needed to help prevent fracture, fairly non-specific instructions at times (e.g., we are told to hinge at the hip but are not told where the hips are and how to do it,) and is not anything unique for osteoporosis. "