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5 Facts About Osteoporosis You Need To Know

Facts About Osteoporosis
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May is Osteoporosis month!

Did you know that May is Osteoporosis month and OSI is partnering with Entira Family Clinics to help bring awareness? Here are 8 facts about this diagnosis:

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes broken bone in millions of Americans.

Fact #1:

An estimated 44 million Americans have low bone density, or osteoporosis.

Fact #2:

1 in 2 women and up to 1 in 4 men over the age of 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis.

Fact #3:

It can affect people of any race and, while the disease in more common in older people, it can strike at any age. People can help prevent osteoporosis by being physically active and including enough calcium and vitamin D to their diets.

Fact #4:

Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and certain medications and other health conditions can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Fact #5:

There is a test called a DXA scan (dual energy xray absorptiometry) that is a painless test that assess the bone mineral density a person has. This is the test experts recommend to diagnosis osteoporosis. Entira Family clinics are equipped to perform this test, whether you are a patient of theirs or not.

 

Physical Therapy for Osteoporosis

In regards to Physical Therapy and exercises to help prevent osteoporosis, we recommend weight bearing and posture exercises. The importance of this is that the weight bearing helps stimulate the bones to help keep them strong along with your muscles and good posture reduces the stresses especially to the spine where people can be at risk for fractures.

A walking program several times per week along with resistance training is an excellent exercise routine. Resistance training could include weights or bands, but if you don’t have access to this kind of equipment, doing squats at the kitchen sink and grabbing cans out of the pantry to do bicep curls can have a positive effect on your bones as well all the while staying straight through your spine and avoiding a slouched position.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the OSI PT’s with any questions about how we can help keep you and your bones healthy!

– Amy