What treatments do physical therapists offer for osteoporosis?

Our bodies naturally weaken as we age. Your muscles can lose strength, you can become less flexible and your endurance can decrease. Your bones can even become more brittle, especially for those with osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is a condition that causes weak bones, which increases the risk of fractures. It’s quite common, with research showing that nearly 500 million people around the globe may have the bone disease. In fact, it causes more than 8 million fractures on an annual basis, with a fracture occurring from osteoporosis every three seconds.

Physical therapy is a great treatment option for those with osteoporosis who are seeking pain management options. Read on to learn about the basics of osteoporosis as well as the physical therapy treatments that can both help with symptoms of the disease and decrease the risk of fractures.

What is osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis, meaning “porous bones,” is a disease that causes bones to become weak and brittle. It means that old bone tissue is breaking down faster than the process of creating new tissue. Some people confuse it with osteoarthritis, which is a type of arthritis that occurs when tissue at the ends of your bones break down, causing pain.

Decreased bone density can increase the risk of fractures, especially in the wrist, hip or spine.

The disease is more common in women than men due to the hormonal changes that women often have from aging. For people over the age of 50, osteoporosis fractures will affect 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men in their lifetime.

Early and late symptoms of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is often referred to as a “silent” disease, as most people living with it don’t experience any symptoms until their first fracture. But there are symptoms that you can be on the lookout for, both in the early and late stages of the condition.

Signs of early-stage osteoporosis:

• Brittle fingernails.
• Decreased grip strength.
• Receding gums.

Signs of late-stage osteoporosis: 

• Stooped posture (kyphosis).
• Loss of height.
• Neck or back pain.
• Fractures due to a fall.

5 physical treatment options for osteoporosis

Not only can physical therapy help with pain management, but it can also improve your strength, flexibility and balance to reduce the risk of fractures. There are several physical therapy treatments that can help with osteoporosis: 

1. Balance training — As most osteoporosis fractures are caused by falls, improving your balance is crucial to reducing the risk of accidents in the future. A physical therapist can walk you through exercises that will help you maintain your center of gravity as you stand or move. They can also assess your gait and show you how to stay balanced as you walk.
2. Weight-bearing exercises — Increasing the strength in your bones is one of the best ways to combat the loss of bone density. A physical therapist can show you how to safely and effectively use weight while exercising in order to decrease your weakness and reduce the risk of fractures. Walking and climbing stairs with weights are great examples.
3. Resistance exercises — Your physical therapist may also recommend resistance exercises. Much like weight-bearing exercises, resistance exercises also increase your bone mass, but it’s done by making your muscles work against an external force, such as a band or your own weight. These exercises can include pushups or yoga, depending on your body’s capability. 
4. Posture improvement — Improving your posture can make a big difference for people with osteoporosis, especially for those with stooped posture. By making posture adjustments during an assessment, a physical therapist can show you small positional adjustments that will decrease your risk of a fall, which can lead to a fracture.
5. Home modifications — Physical therapists can help treat your osteoporosis even after you leave the clinic. They can recommend modifications that you can make to your home to make it safer and reduce the possibility of a fall or fracture.

3 self-care treatment options for osteoporosis

Even though physical therapy is one of the best treatment options for osteoporosis, there are other things you can do to help your pain in between sessions.

Self-care treatment options for osteoporosis include:

1. Hot and cold packs — Cold packs and heating compresses can help alleviate pain that can stem from osteoporosis. While ice can numb the area that’s causing the ache and possible swelling, heat can help to alleviate the stiffness.
2. Over-the-counter medication — If you’re looking for a quick and easy treatment to temporarily alleviate osteoporosis pain, over-the-counter pain relievers can help. Ask your doctor before taking drugs like ibuprofen, aspirin or acetaminophen.
3. Lifestyle changes — There are changes that you can make in your everyday routine that can decrease your risk of a fracture, such as limiting your alcohol consumption and ensuring that your diet has enough calcium to help with your bone density.

Alliance PTP can connect you with the physical therapy practice you need for osteoporosis treatment

At Alliance Physical Therapy Partners, we’re proudly bringing together physical therapy practices across the country to help people get the high-quality PT they need. 

Want to see a physical therapist in person? We can put you in touch with an Alliance PTP partner that’s close to you and that can help you address osteoporosis treatment. 

Not keen on in-person PT sessions or not close to an Alliance PTP partner? No worries. We also offer effective and affordable virtual physical therapy through our Agile Virtual Physical Therapy platform. 

Come find help for your injury or chronic condition today!