Osteoporosis is a common condition in which the bones become weak and brittle. It is estimated that over 54 million Americans have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis may occasionally cause symptoms such as back pain, stooped or bent over posture with a “hump back”, loss of height, and shortness of breath. However, it is often considered a “silent” disease, and many may not know that they have it until the bone becomes weak enough that a fracture occurs. Fractures are the most significant complication associated with osteoporosis, and they are most frequently seen in the hip and the spine. With osteoporosis, fractures often occur during normal everyday activities that would not affect those with healthy bones. In fact, 50% of women and 25% of men will suffer from an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime. Identify your personal risk for developing osteoporosis, what steps you can take to prevent it, and treatments to slow its progression by reading below!
How Does Bone Become Brittle?
Did you know that your bones are living tissue? Bones serve many vital functions for the body including supporting the body, protecting the organs, and storing of calcium and other minerals. They are constantly undergoing the process of being made (remodeling) and broken down to supply the body with needed calcium. In our younger years, the bone mass increases as new bone is made faster than old bone is broken down. The ratio of bone breakdown to bone remodeling changes as we age, with the process slowing down by age 20 and peak bone mass being achieved by age 30. After 35, bone breakdown occurs at a faster rate than bone remodeling, leading to a gradual decrease in bone mass. As a result, individuals over 50 are at the greatest risk of developing osteoporosis. The most significant risk factor other than age is sex, as women are four times more likely to develop osteoporosis than men.
Other risk factors that increase your risk of having osteoporosis include:
- Being of White or Asian descent
- Smaller body frame and lower body weight
- Altered hormone levels (e.g. lower estrogen and testosterone sex hormones, overactive thyroid)
- Low calcium or Vitamin D levels
- Long term steroid use
- Certain medical conditions such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and kidney or liver disease
- Lifestyle choices (i.e. inactive lifestyle, excessive alcohol and tobacco use)
Good nutrition with a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D and regular exercise are the best ways to prevent osteoporosis. If you have already developed osteoporosis or experienced a fracture as a result of the condition, physical therapy can help.
Physical Therapy and Osteoporosis
A physical therapist can develop a treatment plan based on your needs, with the overall goals of improving your bone health and reducing risk of fracture. In order to grow, bone has to be put under adequate stress. This can be achieved best through weight-bearing and resistance exercises. A physical therapist can instruct you in these exercises to build bone, decrease bone loss, and strengthen muscles. More importantly, they can ensure that you are doing so at the appropriate level and intensity of exercise for your specific condition. In addition to exercise, physical therapy can also include posture training to reduce spinal fracture and balance training to reduce fall risk. Modalites can also be applied to reduce pain. If you have osteoporosis and are looking to improve your quality of life and reduce risk of fracture, call Respire Physical Therapy at (703) 671-1871 or click here to schedule an initial evaluation today!
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