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Osteoporosis: The Condition With No Symptoms

By Eugene Antwi
Opinion Osteoporosis: The Condition With No Symptoms
MAY 18, 2018 LISTEN

It was early in the morning when all were set for work. A knock came, entered a young man in his early thirties, pushing his old lady in a wheelchair. I offered him a seat, welcome them and ask why they are here?

The man nearly cried, when he opened his mouth and started speaking, she is my mum, a healthy old lady in her late sixties, she does all her things without seeking for assistance. One day she wanted to bath and fell in the process, and according to her the fall wasn’t anything serious to cause fracture and now she is weak and looks fragile. Some months later the woman kicked the bucket.

The woman was an osteoporotic patient but never knew until the fracture when investigations were made.

What is osteoporosis?
In simple terms it means your bone has reduce its density, becomes fragile and can break easily and normally does not cause symptoms until the bone breaks.

Bone mass decreases after age 35years and bone loss occurs more frequently in women after menopause and mostly occurs in the hip, spine or wrist but other bones can break too.

I can’t tell about the statistics of Ghanaians having such a condition but it is estimated that about 55% of US population aged 55 years and older have the condition and approximately 22% of those who have hip fracture die the year following after the fracture. Bone density measurement test and X-ray are used to determine the presence of osteoporosis and once diagnosed, your doctor may prescribe medication to improve your bone mass.

Who is at risk?
Female gender, older adult, thin and small body frame, family history of osteoporosis, excessive alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, lack of exercise, low diet in calcium, Amenorrhea (loss of menstrual period)

There is no cure for osteoporosis hence proper lifestyle changes such as avoiding smoking, alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight and inclusion of calcium in your diet. Get outdoor and enjoy the sunshine as it is a good source of Vitamin D which enables calcium to be absorb in the body.

Proper physiotherapy management couple with medication can help protect and strengthen your bones.

Physiotherapist will develop plan in the form of well monitored exercise that will help strengthen your bone, improves your balance to reduce your risk of falling and manage any associated pain as a results of the condition.

ALWAYS CHOOSE PHYSIOTHERAPY.
Eugene Antwi,
(Physiotherapy Technician)
[email protected] #mediaphysio.

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