October is the month for Osteoporosis awareness. It is a disease that causes bones to become weak and break easily. It affects mainly older women, but prevention should start when you are younger. No matter your age, you can take steps to prevent bone loss and build bone mass. Bone is a living tissue constantly undergoing a gradual decrease and being replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when the creation of new bone doesn’t maintain the loss of old bone. 

The purpose of bone in the human body is to provide a framework; it also serves many other essential biological functions, such as protecting your internal organs from harm and storing critical nutrients that the body absorbs.  

Did you know:

You should take the right form of calcium to boost your nutrients. Your body does not produce calcium, and you can get it from the food you eat or supplements you take. If your calcium intake is too low, your body will absorb the minerals from your bones and cause bone loss, leading to weak, brittle bones that may result in osteoporosis, the “silent” disease. 

You may be experiencing bone loss for many years with no symptoms until you break or fracture any bone in your body, causing immense pain and even disability. Making it more difficult to do basic activities like walking, sitting down, or getting out of bed. Your body also uses calcium to send messages through your nervous system, help your muscles contract, and regulate your heart’s rhythm. 

Osteoporosis affects women more than it does men. Of the estimated 10 million Americans with osteoporosis, more than 80% are women. One of the reasons is that women usually have smaller and less dense bones than men. In the US, osteoporosis affects one in four women who are 65 or older.

Girls and women of all ages need to protect their bones. If you experience any of these symptoms for a prolonged period, I suggest you get it checked out:

  • Slouching shoulders and a hunched posture
  • A curve in your back
  • Height loss
  • Back pain

Osteoporosis can disrupt people’s lives. Fractures that result from osteoporosis can be immensely painful, and these fractures can go undiagnosed or even misdiagnosed, resulting in prolonged pain. Basic daily activities can become challenging and stop people from being independent. 

Some of these bad habits can increase your risk of osteoporosis:

  • Having a sedentary or ​​inactive lifestyle and spending a lot of time sitting or lying down.   Weight-bearing exercises and activities that boost balance and good posture benefit your bones. Walking, running, jumping, dancing, and weightlifting are at the top of the list to advance your bone strength. Get moving, those bones are made for moving! 
  • Excessive alcohol consumption. Drink alcohol in moderation – not only can alcohol harm your bones, but too much can leave you feeling lightheaded and lead to falls.
  • Tobacco use. It’s terrible for your health and raises the risk of brittle bones.

Can osteopathy help with osteoporosis?

Osteopathy is a branch of medical practice that emphasizes the treatment of medical disorders through the osteopathic manipulation and massage of the bones, joints, and muscles. 

Osteopathy can improve your mobility and lessen your pain by correcting disjointedness that causes pain and inflammation. Relieving you of back and neck pain, sports injuries, and repetitive stress injuries. 

Osteopaths are experts in musculoskeletal pain and will help with the early diagnosis and prevention of those suffering from misaligned joints or fractured bones. Identifying the differences between muscle, joint, and tendon-related pain, as well as fracture pain. 

This procedure is essential in ending further loss of bone strength and is a great way to prevent bones from weakening. You need to be attentive in slowing down the natural bone loss through aging and prevent your bones from becoming brittle.

Ways to take care of your bones:

  • Osteopathic manipulation – Take the holistic approach to heal those bones and get chiropractic care from an Osteopath. Our on-staff doctor, Dr. Pavlovic, is a doctor of osteopathy, a certified chiropractor, and an expert in healing soft tissue and muscle injuries through these non-invasive methods. We go much deeper to find the root cause of what is bothering you and create a custom plan tailored to your needs. Through cutting-edge technology and medical science, we heal our patients from within.
  • Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy – SWT is a modality used for the treatment of a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, primarily applied to chronic diseases, particularly those affecting medium to large-sized tendons and their insertions on bone.
  • Pulsed Electromagnetic Therapy – Recover faster, even from broken bones! Pulsed electromagnetic therapy uses electromagnetic fields to reduce inflammation and heal fractures of bones and soft tissue. It also helps balance your immune system and relax your muscles, reduce stress, and more.

Our team of doctors and medical professionals uses a comprehensive, holistic approach to functional medicine. Viewing each patient as a unique individual and approaching their health concerns with a discerning eye. Prioritize your health and feel great with Dr. Pavlovic at the Longevity Care Clinic, where you will receive only the best treatment!