Osteoporosis is a condition in which the strong internal struts that make up most bones become thinner, leaving bones fragile and prone to breaking easily, which can result in pain and disability.
In the UK, one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 will fracture a bone, mainly due to poor bone health. Osteoporosis is often a silent condition, giving no symptoms until a bone breaks, so many people are unaware they have fragile bones until that happens.
What causes osteoporosis?
Smoking and drinking above the recommended limits increase the risk, while gender, genetics, age, race and low body weight are also contributing factors. In a healthy skeleton, bone is broken down and rebuilt in balance. In osteoporosis this balance is lost, through insufficient bone strength in the first instance, excessive breakdown, or inadequate formation of new bone.
How osteoporosis is classified
- Primary Type 1 — in women after the menopause, due to reduced oestrogen production
- Primary Type 2 — naturally occurring after the age of 75 in both women and men, on a ratio of 2:1
- Secondary — linked to certain chronic conditions or medications such as corticosteroids, affecting men as often as women
Because the wrist, hip and spine rely heavily on the more porous cancellous bone, these areas are at greater risk of osteoporotic fractures.
How osteopathy can help
There is a great deal you can do to prevent the condition and to reduce your chance of breaking a bone. Osteopaths are well placed to screen patients for osteoporosis and offer practical advice on risk factors, prevention and treatment.
Screening
Your osteopath can screen you using the FRAX questionnaire, an online tool developed by the World Health Organisation to predict the 10-year probability of a hip or other major fracture, based on widely accepted risk factors.
Prevention advice
Once someone at risk is identified, there is a lot they can do to reduce the chance of a fracture. We provide dietary, exercise and lifestyle advice to help manage risk factors. Those found to be at moderate to high risk are advised to consult their GP.
