Have you been told you have osteopenia or were diagnosed with osteoporosis?

Are you interested in trying to get your bones stronger without medication? At Gold Coast Physical Therapy, our physical therapists are up to date on the most advanced strategies to improve bone health. We will guide you through all the steps you can take to ensure your bones stay strong, including our Juvent micro-vibration unit, so you are safe doing what you love!

How Physical Therapy Can Help Improve Your Bone Health

t is estimated that over 10 million Americans over 50 years have osteoporosis, with a higher prevalence in women (30%) than in men (15%). Osteoporosis is characterized by losing bone mineral density (BMD) and increased susceptibility to fractures. For some people, the first indication of osteoporosis is a fracture. Fractures are far more common in women than men, with the lifetime risk for women being 50%, whereas it is 20% for men. The most common sites of fractures are the hip and spine. Fractures to these areas typically result in disability, decreased independence, and an increased risk of death.

The good news is you can prevent and sometimes stop or reverse your bone density.

At Gold Coast Physical Therapy, our physical therapists use the most advanced treatments, including micro-vibration, to provide you with solutions that work!

Call today to see if we can help you improve your bone health and if Juvent’s micro-vibration is right for you!

Why is bone health so important?

We all have special bone cells that regulate the health and strength of our bones. These cells are called osteoclasts, which break down bone, and osteoblasts, which create new bone. If new bone creation doesn’t keep up with old bone breakdown, we develop osteopenia or osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become weak and brittle.

This imbalance leads to impaired bone mineral density, bone quality, and increased susceptibility to low-trauma fractures. The risk for osteoporosis increases with advancing age, with women having a higher fracture risk than men. Regardless of gender, lifestyle habits will increase the risk of osteoporosis.

The most important risk factors for osteoporosis-related fractures include:

Physical inactivity
Nutritional deficiencies (i.e., Vitamin D and lack of calcium)
Low weight
Low exposure to sunlight
Use of corticosteroids (i.e., Prednisone)
Tobacco smoking
High alcohol consumption

Increased Risk of Falling

Another primary concern of osteoporosis is the significant potential impact on your ability to move around, your increased risk of falling, and your overall independence. Someone with weakened bones that falls has a significantly increased risk of severe injury and death from the fall.

Gold Coast Physical Therapy can help identify any limitation or weakness affecting your function and give you the tools to simultaneously build the strength of your bones and reduce your risk of serious injury!