“Everything works the way it is built."

Anne Wales

OSTEOPOROSE

Osteoporosis is a condition in which lowered bone density leads to a high risk of bone fracture. Although common in people of advanced age1 and with certain medical conditions2,3, the risk is able to be minimized with modern medications4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and lifestyle interventions13, 14. Hip fractures in the elderly in particular can lead to significantly reduced quality of life15, requiring assistance with everyday needs, and even death16.

Our office utilizes an imaging device, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), that measures bone density, using only a small amount of radiation17. By identifying low bone density early and treating appropriately, the risk of long-term consequences from osteoporosis can be lowered4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.

Bone-Healthy Lifestyle:

  • Moderate impact exercise14 and whole body vibration therapies18
  • Sufficient supply of calcium and vitamin D.19
  • Avoiding smoking20 and being underweight21

Avoiding Falls: 13,22

  • Recognize and eliminate trip hazards in home and everyday life
  • Get treatment for visual impairments (e.g. up-to-date glasses prescription)
  • Get treatment for walking difficulties

Diagnostic Process:3

  • Risk factor assessment
  • DXA bone density measurement
  • Laboratory tests
  • If necessary, x-ray of the thoracic and lumbar spine to determine current/prior fractures
  • Control measurements to assess the success of the therapy

CITATIONS:

  • 1 Wright NC, et al. The Recent Prevalence of Osteoporosis and Low Bone Mass in the United States Based on Bone Mineral Density at the Femoral Neck or Lumbar Spine. J Bone Miner Res, 2014, 29: 2520-2526
  • 2 Peña AR, Perez VO. Osteoporosis : Risk Factors, Symptoms & Management. Nova Science Publishers, Inc; 2012.
  • 3 Cosman F, et al. Clinician’s Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int, 2014, 25, 2359–2381.
  • 4 Bone HG, et al. Ten years’ experience with alendronate for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. N Engl J Med, 2004, 350(12):1189–1199
  • 5 Chesnut CH 3rd, et al. Effects of oral ibandronate administered daily or intermittently on fracture risk in postmenopausal osteoporosis. J Bone Miner Res, 2004, 19(18):1241–1249.
  • 6 Chesnut CH 3rd, et al. A randomized trial of nasal spray salmon calcitonin in postmenopausal women with established osteoporosis: the prevent recurrence of osteoporotic fractures study. PROOF Study Group. Am J Med, 2000, 109(4):267–276.
  • 7 Cummings SR, et al. Denosumab for prevention of fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. N Engl J Med, 2009, 361(8):756–765, Erratum in: N Engl J Med, 2009;361(19):1914
  • 8 Harris ST, et al. Effects of risedronate treatment on vertebral and nonvertebral fractures in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis: a randomized controlled trial. Vertebral Efficacy with Risedronate Therapy (VERT) Study Group. JAMA, 1999, 282(14):1344–1352
  • 9 Lyles KW, et al.Zoledronic acid and clinical fractures and mortality after hip fracture. N Engl J Med, 2007, 357(18):1799–1809.
  • 10 Neer RM, et al. Effect of parathyroid hormone (1–34) on fractures and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. N Engl J Med, 2001, 344(19):1434–1441.
  • 11 Reginster J, et al. Randomized trial of the effects of risedronate on vertebral fractures in women with established postmenopausal osteoporosis. Vertebral Efficacy with Risedronate Therapy (VERT) Study Group. Osteoporos Int, 2000, 11(1):83–91.
  • 12 Wang PW, et al. Anti-Osteoporosis Medications Associated with Decreased Mortality after Hip Fracture. Orthopaedic surgery, 2019 Oct; Vol. 11 (5), pp. 777-783.
  • 13 Choi M, Hector M (2012) Effectiveness of intervention programs in preventing falls: a systematic review of recent 10 years and meta-analysis. J Am Med Dir Assoc 13(2):188.13–188.e21
  • 14 Hartley C, et al. High‐Impact Exercise Increased Femoral Neck Bone Density With No Adverse Effects on Imaging Markers of Knee Osteoarthritis in Postmenopausal Women. Journal of Bone & Mineral Research. 2020;35(1):53-63
  • 15 Lips P, van Schoor NM. Quality of life in patients with osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int, 2005;16:447e55.
  • 16 Leboime A, et al. Osteoporosis and mortality. Jt Bone Spine, 77 (2010), pp. S107-S112.
  • 17 Njeh CF, et al. Radiation exposure in bone mineral density assessment. Appl. Radiat. Isot. 1999, 50:215-236.
  • 18 Sen EI, et al. Effects of whole-body vibration and high impact exercises on the bone metabolism and functional mobility in postmenopausal women. J Bone and Mineral Metabolism, 2020, 38(3):392-404.
  • 19 Prentice RL, et al. Health risks and benefits from calcium and vitamin D supplementation: Women’s Health Initiative clinical trial and cohort study. Osteoporos Int, 2013, 24, 567–580.
  • 20 Krall EA, Dawson-Hughes B. Smoking increases bone loss and decreases intestinal calcium absorption. J Bone Miner Res, 1999, 14:215–220.
  • 21 Waugh EJ, et al. Risk factors for low bone mass in healthy 40–60 year old women: a systematic review of the literature. Osteoporos Int, 2009, 20:1–21.
  • 22 Sözen T, et al. An overview and management of osteoporosis. Eur J Rheumatol., 2017 Mar; 4(1): 46-56.