What are the massage techniques for osteoporosis?

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Osteoporosis is not suitable for massage because if the force is not controlled properly, it can cause fractures. This is due to the fact that fragile bones have a very low stress tolerance, and sometimes even a small external force can cause fractures. Moreover, the spine is the most common site of fractures. If massage is necessary, then only gentle techniques should be used, such as light kneading, pressing, or rolling. Do not apply heavy pressure or manipulate joints, and certainly do not perform bone-setting on others unnecessarily, as this can easily cause fragile fractures, resulting in more harm than good and bringing trouble. Therefore, it is generally best to avoid massages for those with osteoporosis.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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What are the massage techniques for osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is not suitable for massage because if the force is not controlled properly, it can cause fractures. This is due to the fact that fragile bones have a very low stress tolerance, and sometimes even a small external force can cause fractures. Moreover, the spine is the most common site of fractures. If massage is necessary, then only gentle techniques should be used, such as light kneading, pressing, or rolling. Do not apply heavy pressure or manipulate joints, and certainly do not perform bone-setting on others unnecessarily, as this can easily cause fragile fractures, resulting in more harm than good and bringing trouble. Therefore, it is generally best to avoid massages for those with osteoporosis.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
49sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of osteoporosis in women?

Symptoms of osteoporosis in women generally include the following: The first is pain, which can be localized back pain or generalized pain throughout the body. The second is spinal deformity, which is often manifested by bending and hunching over, as well as some individuals appearing shorter than before—these conditions are also caused by osteoporosis, leading to reduced bone strength and vertebral deformity. The third is brittle fractures, which occur because osteoporosis leads to a reduction in bone mass, making the bones less sturdy. Even a minor external force can cause a fracture, for example, a simple fall might result in a distal radius fracture. Thus, the basic symptoms of osteoporosis in women include pain, spinal deformity, and brittle fractures.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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Causes of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is caused by two types of reasons, one is primary disease, and the other is secondary disease. Primary disease is commonly seen in postmenopausal women, as well as in some chronic strain injuries, and the occurrence of some metabolic diseases, which accounts for primary osteoporosis. Secondary osteoporosis may be due to trauma, long-term plaster immobilization, or lack of weight bearing after surgical fixation, leading to disuse osteoporosis.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Osteoporosis detection methods

Osteoporosis is a systemic special disease characterized by low bone mass and damaged bone microarchitecture, which leads to increased bone fragility and susceptibility to fractures. This is the standard set by the World Health Organization in 2017. However, currently in clinical practice, there is no direct method available to measure bone hardness. Therefore, an indirect method is used, which is the measurement of bone density. There are many methods to measure bone density, among which the gold standard is Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). Other methods include single photon, single energy X-ray, Quantitative Computed Tomography (QCT), peripheral quantitative CT, and quantitative ultrasound testing.

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Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
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What to do about osteoporosis pain?

After osteoporosis leads to pain, we first need to clarify which part of the body the pain is located, or what causes the pain. If the pain is solely due to osteoporosis, such as decreased bone density in the limbs causing soreness and weakness, it is appropriate to supplement with calcium and vitamin D while also enhancing exercise to alleviate the pain. If the pain is due to fractures caused by osteoporosis, such as vertebral compression fractures or rib fractures, the fractures should first be repositioned, immobilized, and stabilized. Additionally, medications that treat osteoporosis should be used, such as those that inhibit bone resorption and promote bone formation.