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Can Osteopathy Help With Osteoporosis?

Women know that with advancing age there is also the very real and present danger of osteoporosis. Some have argued that unless bones have been nurtured and nourished before age 30, the odds of contracting osteoporosis are higher than normal. On the other side of the equation are those who would seek out medical care well into their senior years when there might only be a hint of bone disease or maybe none at all.

While medical doctors seek to prevent osteoporosis only with the help of calcium supplementation and cannot truly treat anything that has not yet occurred, visiting an osteopathic doctor (D.O.) well ahead of any problem is highly advantageous. Not only can this practitioner point toward any changes that may be imminent in the patient's musculoskeletal health, but the odds are very good that she or he is on the cutting edge of preventive care as well.

After your D.O. had a chance to evaluate your current bone health and also ascertain your range of motion, she or he will most likely also discuss calcium and Vitamin D supplementation in your diet. By and large, the dosage will vary but the average dosage for an older female is right around 1,500 milligrams. In addition, the osteopath will recommend exercises - both stretching and regular impact exercises - that serve to underscore the ability of the bones to continue bearing the weight of the person.

If you are overweight, the next step to increasing your bone health is a reduction of the unhealthy weight in favor of an increase in healthy, lean muscle mass. Do not worry that you must sweat in a gym if this is not to your liking. Instead, you will find that your D.O. most likely will suggest a walking regimen that can combine fun, walking your best friend, and letting you get plenty of oxygen and exercise at the same time.

Hormone replacement therapy is an iffy topic you may wish to discuss with your osteopath and by and large she or he will take a hands-off approach, at least initially. Because of the side effects associated with estrogen therapy, many osteopaths are going to consider this only a means of last resort, if they do not perceive any better course of action. Side effects are sometimes too severe to merit the prescription even if seems indicated.

Additionally, your osteopathic specialist will also discuss other lifestyle changes with you, namely proper posture, and adjustment of your workplace seat, smoking cessation, and also a healthful sleep environment. Paying special attention to your mattress make and model, your D.O. may recommend a different brand that will be friendlier on your back and also on your changing bones.

The advantage that patients of osteopaths have over those visiting mainstream medical doctors is obvious: they will receive better care when it comes to prevention, and their physicians are more closely involved in their lives and therefore also their health. This will make more of a difference in lifetime health than simple symptomatic treatments.