Bone burnout in young adults: An emerging issue

Growth is happening in a younger population as fitness becomes a larger part of their lifestyle, so awareness of bone and joint health must be considered.

- DR. RAKESH RAJPUT

Over the past several years, gym culture has become synonymous with urban living, and many young adults are beginning to emphasize strength training, weight training, and high-endurance style workouts with a focus on high momentum. While engagement in movement is incredibly important when maintaining healthy bones and joints, motivation for consistency and intensity of exercise can only be positive when within reason; however, this consumption of the feeling of accomplishment can backfire! Joints and bones can become overloaded when a person who, traditionally, is in their 20s or 30s, exercises beyond their threshold and leads to what experts refer to as, "bone burnout." While there isn't a formal diagnosis for bone burnout, bone burnout is the accelerated wear and tear of bone and joints symmetrically, which induces continued joint problems of debilitating pain, stiffness, and even early-onset arthritis.

Why Are Young Adults Prone to Bone Burnout?