BONE DEEP: UNDERSTANDING OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteoporosis is a scary medical term for elderly patients. What if we told you that you don’t need to be afraid of having osteoporosis? In this week’s blog, we are going to talk about osteoporosis and how to live a completely normal life.
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a common disease that causes weak and/or brittle bones, which increases the likelihood of fractures. Bone is living tissue that is constantly broken down and replaced by new bone. When we are younger, the body makes new bone faster than it breaks down old bone which results in increased bone mass. As we get older, this process is reversed, and the process slows down resulting in faster bone breakdown than more bone formation.
Peak bone mass is typically reached at age 30 and acts almost like a bank. The more bone that was created before peak bone mass, the greater chance there is of avoiding osteoporosis later in life. Even though peak bone mass tends to be hereditary, there are risk factors such as hormone imbalances, dietary habits, medications, medical complications and lifestyle choices that can speed up the process of osteoporosis.
The most common symptoms of osteoporosis include back pain, stiffness and increased likelihood of bone fractures, especially in the lumbar spine or hip. As individuals get older, doctors may recommend a diagnostic imaging procedure called DEXA scan, a low-dose x-ray that measures bone density and strength.
How Do You Manage Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis, like several other common aging process conditions, is not curable; however, it can be managed. When bone weakens, calcium and vitamin D are depleted from the body. Daily calcium and vitamin D supplements can help lessen this process. It’s also recommended to slightly change your diet and eat foods higher in calcium and vitamin D.
Exercising regularly is another great way to combat osteoporosis. Mild to moderate strength training exercises combined with weight-bearing and balance exercises help build strong bones and slows the process of bone loss. Exercising younger in life shows the best results, but it is never too late to start. Individuals think that if they have osteoporosis, they can’t exercise because they will break bones. As long as you’re not doing more than you should or are able to do, there should be no worry about fractures.
Can You See a Chiropractor If You Have Osteoporosis?
Absolutely, and it is encouraged. We have news for you. Almost every elderly patient worldwide has osteoporosis. It is a normal process of aging. Every patient has some degree of osteoporosis. There are over 200 different chiropractic techniques. Yeah, a high force adjustment isn’t suitable for an elderly patient with severe osteoporosis, although, there are several techniques that use light force and are equally successful in removing nerve interference.
At our office, we perform a high-velocity, low-amplitude adjustment using drop pieces on our chiropractic adjusting table. It is a much lighter force than a manual adjustment. If we believe a table drop adjustment may be too much for an osteoporotic patient, we employ another technique using our Activator, an instrument adjusting tool, which performs a lower-velocity, low-amplitude adjustment. It is just as effective as any other chiropractic technique.
So, why don’t you need to be afraid of having osteoporosis? It is a normal process of life. As long as you take care of your body, live a healthier lifestyle and take precaution, you can live a normal life.
If you have any questions about osteoporosis, please call us at (724) 547-3377 and check out our website at www.laurelmountainchiro.com for more content.
Yours In Health,
Brian M. Steinert, DC
Larry E. Wilkins, DC