Endocrinology Search
Endocrinology Endocrinology
osteoporosis
OSTEOPOROSIS
Osteoporosis is the progressive, systemic skeletal disease characterized by decreased bone mass and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue leading to increased bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures.
The more risk factors (eg history, of fracture, advanced age, comorbidities, impaired vision) that are present, the greater the risk of fracture.

Osteoporosis Patient Education

Lifestyle Modification

Exercise
  • Regular weight-bearing exercises and muscle strengthening exercises can improve agility, strength, posture and balance, which may help to prevent falls
    • Jogging, brisk walking, tai chi, weight training
    • Type of exercise will depend on age of patient and physical ability
    • At least 30 minutes of regular exercise 3-4 x/week is recommended
  • May modestly increase bone density (for as long as exercise is being done)
Avoid Cigarette Smoking and Excessive Alcohol Consumption
  • Both associated with increased risk of osteoporotic fractures and should be avoided
  • Alcohol intake may be limited to <2 units/day
Limit Caffeine Intake
  • Caffeinated drinks should be limited to <1-2 servings/day (240-360 mL/serving)

Fall Prevention

  • Counsel the patient, especially the elderly, on ways to reduce risk of falls
    • Measures to prevent falls (eg installing grab bars/handrails, nonslip flooring, adequate lighting, removing loose wires, keeping things within reach)
    • Hip protectors may help reduce the impact on the hip during the fall
  • Evaluate for certain medications (eg sedatives, hypnotics, narcotic analgesics, antihypertensives), neurologic conditions, alcohol, poor vision and hearing, frailty and deconditioning as these may lead to falls
  • Recommend exercise and physical therapy referral

Support Devices

  • Eg braces, lumbar corset, posture-training support devices
  • Recommended for patients with acute vertebral fractures or multiple vertebral fractures associated with chronic pain
  • Provides significant pain relief by decreasing the load on fracture sites and realigning the spinal column
Digital Edition
Asia's trusted medical magazine for healthcare professionals. Get your MIMS Endocrinology - Malaysia digital copy today!
Sign In To Download
Editor's Recommendations
Most Read Articles
Lower joint replacement risk yet another benefit of statins
Yesterday
Routinely used for treating cardiovascular diseases, statins have been shown to benefit other conditions, and new evidence suggests that using the drug at high intensity reduces the risk of hip or knee replacement, an effect that may be specific to rheumatoid arthritis.
Migraine a risk factor for dementia?
Pearl Toh, 29 Jun 2020
Having migraine during midlife appears to be associated with a higher risk of developing dementia in later life, according to a large population-based longitudinal Danish study presented at the AHS* 2020 Virtual Meeting, indicating that migraine may be a risk factor for dementia.
Daily alcohol intake, certain drugs tied to liver abnormalities in PsA patients
30 Jun 2020
Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) often suffer from liver abnormalities, which are associated with higher body mass index (BMI), daily consumption of alcohol, more severe disease, and some therapies, according to a recent study.
Pembrolizumab + chemo improves PFS in previously untreated, advanced TNBC
Christina Lau, 5 days ago

Pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy significantly improves progression-free survival (PFS) vs chemotherapy alone in patients with previously untreated, locally recurrent inoperable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), results of the KEYNOTE-355 study have shown.