Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis (osteoarthrosis). Anthropometric distinctions
J. Dequeker, P. Goris and R. Uytterhoeven
Anthropometric and skin-fold characteristics were studied in 27 women with
symptomatic osteoporosis of the postmenopausal type and in 25 women with
generalized osteoarthritis. In several aspects, important and significant
differences were found between both groups. It was shown that the
osteoporotic women were shorter, more slender, and had less fat, muscle
girth, and strength, while the women with osteoarthritis, although of
comparable age and skeletal size, were more obese and had more fat, muscle
mass, and strength. These findings support the idea that osteoarthritis and
osteoporosis are two different disease entities and not simple phenomena of
aging and wear and tear.
