Health and Fitness Corner

The body constantly is in the process of breaking down and restoring the matrix of the bones in our body. During this process, if the body removes this matrix and is not restoring it at an equal pace, the condition of "Osteoporosis" will develop. This process starts in childhood and affects much more women than men. It also affects more whites than blacks. The failure of the body to restore the organic and inorganic components of the bones results in loss of bone mass. This generally starts in young adult life. The loss of this trabecular bone tissue generally affects the spine, neck of the femur (thigh bone), and the far end of the radial bone (at the wrist), shoulder, and the ribs. Although these are the most commonly affected areas, other bones of the skeleton may also be involved. As we age, this condition worsens if left unchecked. There can be many reasons for the loss of bone mass. Some of which are, hormonal, poor intestinal calcium absorption, poor nutrition, and lack of exercise. A sedentary lifestyle can and will lead to loss of bone mass. When poor nutrition, plus the sedentary lifestyle starts in early adulthood, it will eventually become age related osteoporosis.

The loss of bone in one or more vertebrae can result in crush fractures. This generally occurs at the 8th thoracic vertebra and below, which is about the middle of the back. The individual may or may not be aware that this has occurred. The spine is involved in weight bearing and at first there may not be any symptoms, but when symptoms do occur they may just start as an ache. In time, this ache may develop into an extremely painful condition. The individual will develop a rounded condition of the back (kyphosis). If this roundness affects the upper back, we often refer to this as "Widows Hump". Very often a trauma, such as a fall can cause an exacerbation of a condition that has been dormant for a long period of time. When an ache seems to start for no apparent reason, the individual should see his/her healthcare provider to find the cause. X-rays of the spine will give a definitive diagnosis if a crush fracture is present. When other fractures do occur, there will be an incident involved such as a fall or auto accident. With these fractures there will almost always be immediate pain. Spontaneous fractures can occur in individuals who have severe osteoporosis. In this person a bear hug can easily fracture one or more ribs. They can also have a hip fractured without falling. Prevention is still the best way to avoid the pitfalls that will almost certainly occur, as we get older. The senior must do everything in their power to help slow the progress of any of the above-mentioned problems. In those cases where bone loss is not too great, it is up to the individual to slow its progress. In others with more severe bone loss, they need to restore as much bone mass as possible. This is not impossible if they follow and adhere to certain practices. Read about these practices in our Health Hints below.

Health Hints