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Osteoporosis

Published on: Sunday 19th November 2017

Osteoporosis is a condition in which the usually strong support struts that make up the inside of most bones becomes thinner, which can lead to bones becoming fragile and breaking easily, resulting 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. But osteoporosis is often a silent condition, giving no pain or other symptoms to alert you to the fact until the worst happens and a bone breaks. As such, many people living with osteoporosis are unaware that they have fragile bones until this happens, sometimes with devastating consequences.

Osteoporosis Awareness Campaign 2016 

The iO (Institute of Ostepathy) has teamed up with the National Osteoporosis Society to encourage members to spread the word amongst patients and the public about prevention, detection and treatment of this condition.  Osteopaths are in a prime position to screen patients for this silent condition, offering management advice and support as part of our holistic approach.

What causes Osteoporosis?

Those that smoke or drink in excess of the recommended daily alcohol intake are at greater risk, but gender, genetics, age, race and low body weight are all contributing factors.  Find out more about risk factors at the National Osteoporosis Society website (www.nos.org.uk)

In the healthy skeleton, bone resorption and formation occurs in a balanced and organised fashion, but in the case of osteoporosis, this balance is lost. This might be because of:

Insufficient mass and strength development in the first instance
Excessive bone resorption
Inadequate formation of new bone during remodelling

The disease may be classified as:

Primary type 1 – resulting 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 – to specific chronic medical conditions or as a result of certain medications such as corticosteroids. This does not tend to be age dependant, and effects men as often as women

Due to its larger surface area, cancellous bone is more subject to bone turnover and hence prone to the effects of inappropriate metabolism of bone. In osteoporosis, the supportive bony trabecular break, and are replaced by thinner, weaker bone making them fragile and more prone to fracture.

Because the wrist, hip and spine have more cancellous bone than cortical compared to other areas of the body, relying on trabecula for strength, these areas at greater risk of osteoporotic fractures.

Access indepth fact sheets provided by the National Osteoporosis Society here

How Osteopathy can help:

There is a lot you can do to prevent the condition, and to reduce your chance of breaking a bone if you do get it.  Osteopaths are often seen by the general public as experts in the field of bone health, and as such, they are well placed to screen patients for this condition and offer practical advice on risk factors, prevention and treatment.

Screening:

Your local osteopath can screen you for the condition using a special online screening tool called the FRAX questionnaire.

The FRAX tool has been developed by World Health Organisation (WHO) to predict the 10-year probability of hip or other major osteoporotic fracture in patients based on determinants generally accepted to be the key risk factors.

Prevention Advice:

Once a person who is at risk of developing osteoporosis or sustaining a fracture as a result has been identified, there is a lot they can do to reduce the chance of breaking a bone. Patients who are assessed as being at risk of osteoporosis will be given dietary, exercise and lifestyle advice to help manage risk factors to reduce the impact of the condition on their lifestyle.

Those that are found to be at moderate to high risk will be advised to consult their GP.

I saw Simon regularly to help me with symptoms of multiple slipped discs. Cannot recommend enough - as a first time Osteo patient I found Simon to be professional, helpful and friendly. Everything was done at my own pace and fully explained so I knew what it all meant. Many thanks again!

Oliver, Colliers Wood

Yan Kei is an excellent osteopath. She help me to recover from my issues with Achilles tendons and back problem. Highly recommended.

MM Colliers Wood

I've been visiting the practice since February and have been seen by Yan-Kei. I'm just writing to leave a brief review of the practice and of her. The treatment I have received from Yan-Kei has benefited me greatly and I am improved in all aspects of life. I would recommend this treatment to anyone who feels any sense of discomfort and seeks to change their life for the better. Look forward to my next visit

Paolo

Stephen; I feel so much better after the treatment. It is quite a remarkable improvement. I have regained almost 100% movement in my thoracic spine and my lower back is gradually loosening up. I can now feel and use my stomach muscles again. I have gone from spending two very bad nights as I could not get comfortable in any position and experiencing a succession of very painful and exhausting spasms to being able to sleep on my back and my side. My breathing is also deeper. I cannot thank you enough for fitting me in your busy working day, and for doing the treatment on a chair and for giving me the confidence to relax so that healing can take place.

Sabine, SW London

My daughter has just played her cello for the first time in four months without experiencing pain. Stephen, we are amazed and delighted!

J. Wimbledon

I am from Greece. I have a severe musculoskeletal problem affecting my upper and lower back. In my country, I have physical therapy sessions weekly for the past 30 years. I came to London to visit my daughter for 4 months. I had to find a therapist so as not to cease treatment for my back. I visited Simon after reading the reviews on the center’s website. Without any hesitation I want to say that I was ecstatic with the results of his work. Simon was able to meet all my needs based merely on my descriptions without even having to see X-rays of my back. He is incredibly nice, knowledgeable, motivated and friendly. I want to thank him from the bottom of my heart and I hope that he stays well and continues to offer his services to people in need for many many years to come.

Eleni from Greece.

After suffering with severe pain in the left hand side of my back, I decided to seek advice from Simon. I had previously sought medical advice, but the condition had not improved. On the first consultation Simon took detailed notes and then suggested that I could be suffering from Spondylosis. He examined my back and spine and found that this was the case. He is a very caring and conscientious practitioner. I have been treated by Simon on a regular basis and he has made me feel much better and with his treatment and advice, the pain has decreased considerably. I would thoroughly recommend his service.

Penny, Colliers Wood

Stephen has been my osteopath for many years and has helped me recover from several serious operations. The atmosphere in the clinic is so calm and relaxing, and Stephen is an absolute professional in everything he does. He truly has healing hands.

Laura D

I was very pleased to have assistance from Holly Jordan when I had a very painful lower back recently. I found her diagnosis very reassuring; and the treatment recommended helpful. It was good that plenty of time - over an hour - was allowed for my first initial appointment, as it was good to feel I wasn't rushed and was listened to. I am back to normal health now but would return again, if I needed to. Many thanks!

Mark - Colliers Wood

Just before Christmas, my back ‘went’. By ‘went’ I mean I could barely walk and had constant pain in my lower back and leg. I was off work and spent most of the time lying on the floor. I was treated by Stephen and Simon, both of whom have a professional but very calm manner – ideal for anyone who’s in a lot of pain. They identified muscle and sciatic nerve damage. They obviously knew what they were doing because the pain gradually started to ease, such that by the beginning of March I was back on the treadmill in the gym. Would I use SW19Osteopaths again? Definitely. Only this time I’d go sooner.

Sam B, SW19