Core Healthcare look at the importance of understanding osteoporosis
A huge trend now is to reduce or eliminate dairy in your diet for intolerance or ethical reasons. While there are plenty of way to get calcium, if you’ve eliminated dairy in favour of plant alternatives, it’s important to make sure your bones are receiving the minerals they need to prevent osteoporosis.
Decreased done density occurs when they lose minerals, such as calcium, more quickly than the body can replace them. Bones become thin, weak and fragile, leading to a higher risk of fracture. Fractures due to osteoporosis can result in chronic pain, disability, and loss of independence. The most common bones affected are the hip, spin, wrist, upper arm, forearm and ribs.
Did you know osteoporosis affects over one million Australians?
Osteoporosis is also more common in women, impacting one out of two women as opposed to one out of four men and becomes more common as we age. Women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the five to seven years following menopause. Men have a head start with bone health and tend to develop osteoporosis 10-15 years later than women, because they’re generally bulkier and have more bone mass to lose. It’s important to note here that osteoporosis is not a condition exclusive to the elderly – it can strike at any age.
In addition to age and gender, some of the risk factors associated with the development of osteoporosis include ethnicity, family history, low vitamin D levels, low intake of calcium, low body weight, smoking, excess alcohol or coffee consumption and physical inactivity.
Leading a healthy lifestyle will help keep your bones strong. Exercise can help bones modify their shape and size so they become stronger and this can help prevent injuries. It can also increase muscle strength and improve balance, which can help reduce the risk of falls. Resistance training such as gentle weights or exercises involving increased resistance such as the pool can also be beneficial in maintaining bone density.
An osteoporosis screening is recommended from age 65. However, if you’re a female and have previously had a fracture or other risk factors such as rheumatoid arthritis, a history of smoking or heavy drinking, or low body weight, you should consider a screening earlier.
Bone or DEXA scans can be arranged by our physios at Core Healthcare. If you need help managing osteoporosis, or require a diagnosis, please call us on 1300 012 273 or book online.
About Core Physiotherapy and Exercise Centres
Founded in 2002, Core Physiotherapy and Exercise Centres is a physiotherapy-lead allied health company committed to providing clients with comprehensive assessment and treatment programs in a warm and friendly environment. With multiple clinics across Brisbane, Logan and the Gold Coast, our services include musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports physiotherapy, back and neck rehabilitation, paediatric physiotherapy, exercise physiology, psychology, clinical Pilates and hydrotherapy.
