Place of physiotherapy in prevention and treatment of osteoporosis

Daniela Letašiová
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Elena Žiaková
Stanislava Klobúcka
Slovak Medical University, Faculty of Nursing and Professional Health Studies, Department of Physiotherapy, Bratislava, Slovakia
Slovak Medical University, Faculty of Nursing and Professional Health Studies, Department of Physiotherapy, Bratislava, Slovakia
Rehabilitation Centre Harmony, Bratislava, Slovakia

Abstract

In the recent years osteoporosis has become a substantial health and social-economic problem reaching the level of other civilization diseases. The most significant complication of this osteology illness is the fracture of a thigh bone proximal part, vertebra or forearm. Osteology, a field of study remarkably evolving nowadays, is the science exploring development of bone mass and bone diseases. Osteoporosis is not an inevitable consequence of aging, on the contrary it is a physical disorder that meets all criteria of an illness: 1. Osteoporosis is clearly defined as an illness and its criteria are not only fractures. 2. Science clarified pathophysiological processes of osteoporosis bone mass reduction. 3. Increased peril of fractures can be early diagnosed by measuring bone mass content. 4. There are well known measures for prevention and therapy of osteoporosis. Physiotherapy and appropriate physical activity have their unique place in prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures. Mechanisms of physical activity in prevention of osteoporosis consequences are as follows: physical activity increases the peak bone mass in young age and it slows down the increased loss of bone mass during the menopause and in older age it improves muscle strength, coordination capabilities and stability whereby it can decrease the incidence and severity of falls

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