Can Physiotherapy Prevent Osteoporosis?

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Invisible illnesses are tricky. Although we can’t see them, they exist and can wreak havoc on a person’s body. Such is the case with osteoporosis, a condition that renders one’s bones weak and brittle. This condition has no symptoms but can be dangerous as it puts a person at risk of breaking bones, especially those located in the wrist, hip, and spine.

Vital Facts About Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is more than a problem; it’s an epidemic. Thankfully, public awareness of this condition is at an all-time high. Are you unsure about what osteoporosis is and how it affects people? If so, here are a few facts about the condition that will help you understand it:

— Osteoporosis can affect anyone, but it’s most likely to show up in older females.

— Smaller people are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis.

— Osteoporosis is genetic, so if your mother or grandmother has it, there’s a fair chance that you have it or will develop it.

— Smoking, drinking alcohol, being sedentary, taking certain medications, and having low estrogen levels all contribute to the development of this condition.

Before you become stressed over these bleak facts, understand that there are preventative measures you can take against osteoporosis. They include…

  • Consuming plenty of calcium and vitamin D
  • Working out
  • Avoiding smoking and excessive drinking
  • Participating in a physiotherapy program

Yes, Physiotherapy Helps Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis

Physiotherapy is used to treat a huge array of health conditions, one of which is osteoporosis. Not only does it treat this issue; it also prevents it. The article Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy for Osteoporosis states, “Physiotherapists can help people with osteoporosis to reduce pain and improve mobility, improve posture and prevent falling and fractures.” When it comes to patients who don’t have osteoporosis, a physiotherapist can assist them in developing and carrying out an exercise regime that strengthens their muscles, which fortifies their bones in the long run and guards them from osteoporosis.

Physiotherapists Encourage Safe Physical Activity

Suffering a fracture or bone break due to osteoporosis can be quite traumatic. It’s not uncommon for those in this situation to want to avoid physical activity altogether to prevent further fractures. Instead of opting to be sedentary, why not try physiotherapy? A physiotherapist can provide a safe, fun environment in which patients can recover from fractures and bone breaks healthily. Physiotherapist Kathy M. Shipp wrote, “That’s one of the things that physical therapists can provide — helping people to be maximally active in a safe way. And that is what will prevent future fractures.”

Is osteoporosis genetic? Yes. Is it inevitable that you will develop it if it runs in your family? Not necessarily. Treatments like physiotherapy can help people keep osteoporosis from developing, or can at least lessen its impact.

What steps will you take to prevent osteoporosis?

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