A new concept in functional rehabilitation of osteoporosis

  The World Health Organization defines osteoporosis as a systemic bone disease characterized by low bone mass and damage to bone microarchitecture, leading to increased bone fragility and susceptibility to fracture. The main manifestations are pain in the peripheral bones, spinal deformities and even fractures. The risk of the disease increases with age, and the bones, which are as strong as iron walls, are gradually eroded, causing bone destruction and seriously affecting human health. As the country with the largest absolute number of elderly people in the world, osteoporosis has become a social problem that we cannot ignore. Statistics show that from 2003 to 2006, the total prevalence of osteoporosis over 50 years of age was 20.7% for women and 14.4% for men, and the prevalence was significantly higher among people over 60 years of age, with women being more prominent. It can be seen that osteoporosis is a common and frequent disease in the elderly population.  What is the “new concept”?  The “new concept” means that instead of simply giving medication, modern physical rehabilitation treatment is combined with it. The treatment of both the symptoms and the root cause is fast and effective. The current treatment of osteoporosis is mainly based on anti-osteoporosis medication, with calcium and vitamin D supplements as the basis, together with drugs that inhibit bone destruction or promote bone formation. The treatment mainly targets bone strength and bone density, ignoring the functional impairment that may be caused by the disease, such as hunchback and fall. And the fracture caused by fall is the biggest danger of osteoporosis. If hip fracture occurs within 1 year, 20% of people die from various complications, and about 50% of survivors become disabled and cannot take care of themselves, which makes the quality of life decrease and the economic burden increase. Therefore, osteoporosis in itself is not terrible, but requires more attention to the management of its complications. And modern physical rehabilitation therapy has its own advantages in these areas.  Measure 1: Assessment and treatment of fall risk It is worth emphasizing that falls are preventable and treatable, so that fractures can be avoided, and even if they have occurred, the risk of re-fracture can be reduced through exercise training. Older adults have reduced balance, weakened muscles, or a hunched back that can cause a forward shift in body weight, thus increasing the risk of falls. Patients with osteoporosis often have unexplained falls followed by fractures, which can even cause life-threatening injuries. About 40% of people over 65 years of age fall once a year. The risk of falls can be assessed by a balance function meter, which objectively analyzes the patient’s current balance ability. Then, unique weight-bearing exercises, resistance exercises, proprioceptive training and balance training, such as guided stepping exercises on a soft mat, are designed to suit the patient’s own condition. Through exercise training, bone stress is increased, muscle strength is strengthened, and balance is improved, combining internal and external aspects, thus preventing falls.  Measure 2: Application of spinal orthopedic brace Patients with osteoporosis have the possibility of height shortening and hunchback. Self-assessment reveals that a decrease in height of more than 75 px from the young age puts them at risk of osteoporosis and a bowed back that bulges backwards, often due to spinal compression fractures, which mostly occur silently after minor trauma or during daily activities. In severe cases, it can affect the normal life of patients, such as inability to hold things above the head, and even symptoms of abnormal cardiopulmonary function, such as poor breathing and chest tightness and panic. While early hunchback is reversible, it has been reported that long-term wearing of spinal orthoses can correct hunchback to a certain extent and ensure the normal physiological function of the patient’s organism by enhancing the strength of external back muscles and maintaining the spine in an upright position.  Measure 3: Low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field therapy Low back or circumferential bone pain is also one of the main reasons for patients to come to the clinic, and calcitonin-based preparations can significantly relieve such bone pain. In addition, low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field therapy can quickly and effectively relieve the pain caused by osteoporosis by improving microcirculation, usually within a week.  In short, “New concept, new life”. Adhere to anti-osteoporosis medication, appropriate and reasonable modern physical rehabilitation treatment, early detection, early treatment, prevention and avoidance of osteoporosis and its fracture, so that the older people live more and more wonderful life.