Osteoporosis is a condition where your
bones are getting thinner on the outside and becoming less dense on the inside.
You may have heard that this is common among women after menopause. It’s true
that postmenopausal women are prone to osteoporosis, and they are the biggest
group undergoing osteoporosis physical
therapy, but it does not mean that men or premenopausal women are safe from
it.
How
Do I Know I Have Osteoporosis?
The big problem with osteoporosis is that
you can see or feel it. Most people realized they have osteoporosis after they
had fractured bone. They were doing their daily activities when suddenly their
bone just can’t take it anymore. Some fractured their bones when taking out the
trash. Others broke their bones when doing no less ordinary activities such as
getting off the bus.
If you smoke, drink, or have inactive
lifestyle you are just as prone in getting osteoporosis compared to
postmenopausal women. However, to know exactly if you have osteoporosis or not
you need to see your doctor and get diagnosed.
Normally doctors will recommend x-ray, CT scan, and ultrasound to
measure your bone density and compared it with the normal range in your age
group.
When
Should I Start With PT?
You don’t need to wait until you get a
fracture to start with physical therapy. If you already know that you are in
the high-risk group or have been diagnosed with osteoporosis you should start
the therapy immediately to prevent future problems. However, if you have been living a healthy
lifestyle, eating balanced diet, and exercise regularly you may not need to
concern yourself with PT.
What
Is The Therapy Like?
The physical therapy for osteoporosis
basically includes posture fixes and exercises to strengthen your bones.
Nothing too fancy here. Walking and jogging are both excellent exercises to
strengthen your bone. Of course your therapist will guide you on how to do
those two properly, improve your balance, and avoid falling.
Weight lifting is another exercise you need
to do during the therapy sessions. No, you won’t be deadlifting of doing any
bench presses. The weights are minimal and your therapist will adjust it
according to your fitness level and overall health. Bodyweight exercise such as
pushups is also a great way to improve your bone health.
If you still suffer from pain because of your
injuries your therapist may incorporate some stretches and exercises to address
the issue. If you wish to stick with pain-relieving medications talk it out
with your therapist so he can adjust the treatment accordingly.
Should your therapist see it fit, there
will be changes in your diet too. Bone growth and repair require Vitamin D and
Calcium so you need these two in your daily diet to slow down the rate of bone
loss.
What
About Surgery?
Surgery is performed to fix fracture on
your bone or to fix problems that cause prolonged pain. It does not fix the
underlying cause of osteoporosis nor prevent it. Currently there are no
surgical procedures that can “magically” fix your bone to be thicker and denser.
Your best choice to prevent further injuries and fractures is to follow the osteoporosis physical therapy. So, go ahead and ask your physician. Discuss
your options and ask if PT is the right thing for you.
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