We’ve got bones that help our bodies function properly. What happens when the body, though, loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both? When then happens, it’s called osteoporosis. It’s a bone disease. Obviously, it’s not something you’d want to have, yet it’s all-too-common. Some 54 million Americans have osteoporosis!
Did you know that osteoporosis means “porous bone?” Normal, healthy bones are dense. People with osteoporosis have lost density in their bones. Having an abnormal tissue structure means their bones are weaker than they ideally should be. Weak bones break easier than dense ones. Therefore, you tend to hear about a lot of people over a certain age breaking various bones. Osteoporotic bone breaks are most likely to occur in the hip, spine or wrist. When osteoporosis affects the bones of the spine, a person will typically have stooped or hunched posture.
Interestingly, most people don’t know they have osteoporosis until they literally break a bone. Some signs to watch for include a loss of height or noticing that your spine seems to be curving. You can also ask a health professional to give you a bone density test.
Better yet, regular chiropractic care is a good idea for people who think they may have osteoporosis or are headed that way. The chiropractor’s role in preventing osteoporosis from getting worse includes spinal manipulation (adjustments). In addition, he or she may give you nutritional counseling, certain exercises to do, and offer you relaxation techniques. One of the main goals of all this is to increase your mobility and range of motion. The easier you’re able to move around, the less likely you are to suffer from falls and fractures. In essence, a chiropractor helps keep your body healthy.
Besides helping improve a person’s joint motion and their overall central nervous system, chiropractic care also has a positive effect on the process of bone breakdown and replacement. Bones, after all, are living tissue. The chiropractor stimulates cells that replace bones– that’s a good thing.
Dr. Gerard at Lakewoods Chiropractic in Forest Lake, MN, can help people dealing with osteoporosis through consistent chiropractic care. Please call 651-464-0800 to schedule an appointment.
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