Physiotherapy to Treat Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by low bone mass and bone tissue deterioration, resulting in increased risk of fracture. Osteoporotic bones have lost density and have abnormal tissue structure, which means they are weaker and more likely to break. Osteoporosis can affect people of any age, but is most common in people ages 50 and over.
Symptoms
Because osteoporosis is a disease that develops over years and often has no warning symptoms, the first sign of osteoporosis is frequently a fracture. These fractures, called fragility fractures to indicate that the bone has broken because it has become more fragile, usually occur in the hip, spine, wrist and shoulder. Fragility fractures occur spontaneously or with little agitation, from simple activities such as reaching, bending, coughing or sneezing. They may also result from minor injuries such as falls from standing height or at walking speed.
Height loss from spinal fractures is another symptom of osteoporosis. Because many spinal fractures are asymptomatic, loss of height may be one of the only indicators that a spine fracture is present. If your height is measured regularly by a healthcare professional and you have lost 2 cm or more in height, this may be a warning sign of a spinal fracture.
Physiotherapy at Flxme
Physiotherapy is one non-surgical treatment option that can also help prevent osteoporosis. Together with you, your physiotherapist will create a treatment plan with two main objectives. The first is to educate you on proper posture and safe ways of moving and lifting, so that you can avoid unnecessary load on your bones to prevent fractures. The second is to provide you with customized strengthening exercises you can do at home to help retain and build bone mass and avoid fractures. The exercises will focus on activities that help to maintain or improve your balance. Optimum balance decreases your risk of falling, as falls can result in fractures. Your physiotherapist will also suggest flexibility exercises to reduce the risk of falls.