What it is and What You can do About it
General Information about Osteoporosis:
- Osteoporosis causes bones to become brittle and weak. It occurs when the creation of new bone is not able to keep up with the removal of old bone.
- It affects both men and women of all nationalities, but it is most common in women, especially Caucasian and Asian and those that are post-menopausal.
- Typically there are no symptoms in the early stages, but once your bones become weaker you may notice increased back pain, bone fractures that occur more easily, loss of height, and stooped posture.
Physical Therapy Can Help You By:
- Assessing and correcting posture. Poor posture puts increased stresses on the spine which increases risk of spinal fractures.
- Improving balance to prevent/reduce the risk of falls and provide tips for safety at home.
- Developing specific exercises to build bone and decrease the amount of bone loss with weight bearing and resistance exercises.
Tips for Self-Management:
- Make sure to include enough calcium in your diet. Great sources of calcium include low fat dairy and green leafy vegetables.
- Vitamin D is also important and helps the body absorb calcium. Sources of vitamin D include tuna, sardines, egg yolks, fortified milk and sunlight.
- Maintain an active lifestyle and exercise regularly.
Click here for the downloadable version.