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Physical therapy and osteoporosis

© Ozana Pope-Gajic

Do you think this is a time to think about osteoporosis? How old are you? If you are a woman over the thirty, you better consider taking precaution steps, because your bones resorption slowly starts. In "young" bones, cells are continuously being added and removed. This allows your bones to grow. In normal aging process your body slowly starts to remove more bone cells than it adds. If you have some of the risk factors like: family history, inactivity, early menopause, use of certain medications (Glucocorticoids), smoking - osteoporosis may occur.

Osteoporosis, or porous bone, is a disease characterized by low bone mass and structural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist.

Again, important thing is to prevent this "silent disease", silent because of lack of symptoms until loss of bones density is so hard that bones fractures begin. Somebody could notice loss of height, appear of kyphosis on the thoracic spine, severe back pain (which could be a sign of collapsed vertebra ). But when symptoms appear it is to late for prevention and fighting with this terrible disease starts.

So, let's prevent osteoporosis! How? Just try to live healthy. Exercise regularly, eat regularly and take hormones during your menopause. Use more calcium and vitamin D, they are needed for strong bones. Physical therapist can suggest a patient which physical activities can take, like for example, tai chi, yoga . Also they will teach the patients about osteoporosis prevention, their program allows the patients to learn how to look after their body on their own.

For people who are diagnosed with osteoporosis, different treatment is necessary. Your physician will prescribe a medication to slow or stop bone loss, increase bone density, and reduce fracture risk. Physical therapy has big role in helping patients with osteoporosis. That patients need education about medical management, risk factors, fall and fracture prevention. Also they must be taught about safer walking and movement techniques so that stress on painful and unstable joints can be reduced. A home program of exercise and use of equipment are important parts of osteoporosis education. First what will physical therapist do is treatment plan. A treatment plan is based on the evaluation, and may include exercises and pain relief measures. Program of exercises should be composed of: exercises for strength (isometric, isotonic, isokinetic), passive exercises, postural exercises, balance training, relaxation techniques. It is crucial that exercises should not put any sudden or excessive strain on your bones.

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