OSTEOPOROSIS

Osteoporosis affects many people

1 in 3 women

1 in 12 men

To understand osteoporosis it is important to know a bit about how bone is made and maintained.

Osteoblast cells build new bone

Osteoclast cells remove and recycle bone

Normally their activities are balanced

Bone mass peaks at 30 and then naturally declines. 

Many factors will effect a persons peak bone mass.

Throughout life, bone cells are constantly being removed and replaced from within your skeleton. When the rebuilding rate becomes less active than removal rate, bones are left weaker and more porous.

The biggest threat of this is the onset of the menopause in women. Oestrogen keeps the number of bone removal cells at bay. 

After the menopause when oestrogen levels decrease the cells that break down bone increase, breaking down the bone at a quicker rate than than it is being replaced. 

Bearing this in mind it is vital that in the younger years (up to 30 years old) major risk factors that reduce bone density are avoided to accommodate for this e.g 

SMOKING smoking has a toxic effect on bone by stopping the construction cell (osteoblasts) from doing their work. 

DRINKING TOO MUCH ALCOHOL, 

INACTIVITY Your skeleton grows stronger if you do regular weight-bearing    exercise.

POOR DIET

Other factors such as steroid treatment, family history and illness where malabsorbtion of nutrients is a problem.

Your Osteopath may be able to offer you some relief from your symptoms. For many patients massage and gentle movements of the affected joints will help to restore a more healthy blood supply and greater freedom of movement.

This does not in itself suggest a cure, but if you are more mobile and less uncomfortable, you will be able to do more exercise and this is a crucial part of self-help.