Osteoporosis & Spinal Compression Fractures

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According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 50% of women over age 65 will develop spinal compression fractures due to osteoporosis.

Instead of waiting to break a hip or acquire a spinal compression fracture to discover that you’ve got osteoporosis, you can recognize the many signs of brittle-bone disease by looking closely at your family history and background.

Osteoporosis can occur in association with a number of medical conditions and create symptoms such as intense back pain. In addition, certain prescription drugs, excessive alcohol intake, and cigarette smoking may increase the likelihood of developing bone loss.

Health Problems Associated With Osteoporosis

Thyroid Dysfunction: Hormones from the thyroid gland regulate the speed of body functions. The medications used to treat hypothyroidism (under active thyroid) may be a contributing factor in the development of osteoporosis. An overactive gland also causes bone loss. Therefore, people with thyroid disorders must take special care to provide for the health of their bones.

Arthritis: Osteoporosis tends to be worse in people with rheumatoid arthritis. People with rheumatoid arthritis tend to have calcium deficiencies, are less active due to pain, and take medications that may interfere with calcium absorption. In addition, ongoing steroid use may result in bone loss.

Diabetes: In the first six years after diabetes has become severe enough to take insulin shots daily, there is an increased loss of bone, leading to osteoporosis. If diabetes worsens and insulin must be increased, then resorption also increases.

Medications: Drugs may be a direct cause of weak bones, but more often they aggravate an existing problem with osteoporosis. Antacids containing aluminum interfere with calcium metabolism. Drugs used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure and other related conditions are called diuretics. These drugs often increase calcium loss in the urine, increasing the concern that the loss could weaken bones. Cortisone drugs are the worst for osteoporosis. People who take steroids over long periods of time often develop severe forms of osteoporosis.

Smoking: Complicated symptomatic osteoporosis is common among smokers. Smokers often suffer chronic cough and this may cause loss of bladder control during exercise, resulting in reduced physical activity, increasing the likeliness of osteoporosis. Nicotine and tobacco resin residues may also increase the loss of calcium through the urine. Smoking interferes with normal circulation, and bones cannot undergo the remodeling and repair processes necessary to maintain strength.

Alcohol: Alcoholics and people who drink regularly have problems with osteoporosis. Alcohol in the intestines decreases absorption of calcium. Since alcohol irritates the stomach, drinkers tend to take more antacids. Alcohol also poisons the liver, which converts vitamin D to its active form. Without vitamin D, calcium absorption is impaired.

Chronic Illnesses: Because chronic illness is associated with decreased activity and increased need for medication, the prevalence of osteoporosis in patients with chronic illnesses is high

If you can identify health problems for which you may be at risk, then you can supplement your nutritional and medication guidelines to maintain healthy bones and prevent osteoporosis. In addition, a preventative exercise prescription needs to be implemented.

To achieve back pain relief, the Erase Your Back Pain program utilizes the functional restoration approach in the treatment of many conditions that affect the spine, including osteoporosis. In doing so, we have helped our clients achieve a greater than 90% success rate.

To learn more on how we might help you, or someone you know, avoid spinal compression fractures and osteoporosis achieve a better quality of life, check out these specialized back pain exercises here: End My Back Pain.

Even if you choose not to pursue my program, you will be more informed and less likely to tolerate ineffective and time wasting treatment remedies. Here’s more information on osteoporosis risk factors that may be of interest to you: Osteoporosis Risk Factors

If you’ve got a question or comment, please let me hear from you. Just fill in the form below.

Dedicated to Erasing your Back Pain,

Malton A. Schexneider, PT, MMSc
The Back Pain Expert

Controlling Back Pain With The Proper Chair

Today, people are more aware of their health and are seeking the best advice on ways of optimizing their lifestyles. More than ever before, consumers are seeking products and services that maximize their health and provide them with the day to day comfort benefits we Americans have become accustomed to.

In my particular practice, questions related to bed selection, pillow selection, chair selection, fitness concerns, nutritional guidance, and the selection of supportive footwear occur daily. Being in a position of having the knowledge and skill to provide my clients with literally life-changing advice, I would be flagrantly remiss if I did not introduce you to specific products and services that I believe offer the highest value and produce the desired results you are seeking.

Because I see a large number of executives and clerical personnel in my practice, one of the most frequent requests I receive is concerned with chair selection.

After 26 years of clinical practice and having had the opportunity to preview and use countless hundreds of chairs, I had come to the conclusion that there was not one chair out there that did everything I wanted it to do.

That is until now.

I was recently provided with a new chair by Smart Motion Technology called the Swing Chair. From the moment I saw this revolutionary new chair, I knew this was no ordinary chair. The Swing Chair redefines form and function and is truly a work of art that must be experienced to be fully appreciated.

In addition to its stunning looks, the Swing Chair exceeds my expectations in terms of its functionality, ease of use, and clinical effectiveness. I can easily customize the chair to any size person and in doing so provide a level of support and comfort that can not be duplicated with most other chairs. From the multi-adjustable armrests to the integrated “swing seat”, the Swing Chair allows me to create a better sitting posture for my clients no matter what sitting position they need to be in. And, a better sitting posture reduces stress to the low back and neck, reduces fatigue to the neck and back muscles, and enhances productivity. The Swing Chair, in effect, actually becomes an integral part of my treatment program.

You can absolutely be assured that the Swing Chair is of the highest quality, offers the most value, and will perform better than any chair you have ever sat in. In addition to a great sitting chair, you will be overwhelmed by the service Smart Motion Technology offers its customers - service that is based on their knowledge and expertise and service that you will not find from any other manufacturer. Ask about their 90 day free trial offer - truly unprecedented.

Like I said, over the years I’ve evaluated some of the best ergonomic chairs on the market - Freedom, Aeron, Leap, Sensor, to name a few - and, by far and away, the Swing Chair smokes them all. The only thing I would add that would, in my professional opinion, make the Swing Chair the “perfect chair”, is an integrated neck support like the Freedom chair. Otherwise, at $495, the Swing Chair represents outstanding value and superior performance in comparison to the other chairs I’ve used.

If you’re in the market for a new chair, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you seriously consider the Swing Chair. Your back will be forever grateful! Check them out here: Swing Chair

As always, I’m interested in your comments or questions. Use the form below and I’ll do my best to respond promptly.

Dedicated to Erasing Your Back Pain,

Malton A. Schexneider, PT, MMSc
The Back Pain Expert