What are the massage techniques for osteoporosis?

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on September 02, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Hong Xia
Endocrinology
56sec home-news-image

Clinical symptoms of osteoporosis

The clinical symptoms of osteoporosis, in mild cases, may result in no discomfort at all. As the condition worsens gradually, pain may surface in the lumbar and back areas, or even aches throughout the body. This commonly intensifies after physical exertion or activity, leading to a decline in weight-bearing capability, or even an inability to bear weight. The second symptom is a reduction in height and shrinking stature, commonly due to vertebral compression fractures, which can be solitary or multiple, occurring with or without a specific cause. The third symptom involves fragile fractures, which can occur from minimal activities or traumas, like bending, bearing weight, compression, or falling. These are commonly known as brittle fractures, which are clinical manifestations of osteoporosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
1min 36sec home-news-image

How to check for osteoporosis?

How is osteoporosis diagnosed? There are several methods currently used for the diagnosis of osteoporosis. One method is X-ray examination, which usually only detects severe cases of osteoporosis and also depends on the amount of radiation used, making it seldom used in clinical settings. Another method is ultrasound testing, referred to as ultrasound bone density testing. It typically examines areas like the heel or the wrist. However, ultrasound bone density can have significant inaccuracies, so it is used more as a screening tool rather than for precise diagnosis. The third method is a bone density scanner. This is currently the simplest and most effective method to diagnose osteoporosis. It involves measuring the Relative Vertebral Density (RVD), where a normal value of 1 indicates that the vertebral body density is higher than that of the intervertebral disc. An RVD value of 0 indicates that the vertebral body density is the same as the intervertebral disc density, which signifies osteoporosis. If the RVD is less than 0, it shows that the vertebral body density is less than that of the intervertebral disc, pointing to severe osteoporosis. The bone density scanning method is very straightforward. The patient simply places a foot or arm inside the machine, and the computer quickly provides the bone density measurement, which is more accurate and cost-effective compared to other diagnostic methods.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
59sec home-news-image

How is osteoporosis diagnosed?

How to check for osteoporosis? Currently, in clinical practice, there is no single instrument or technology that can definitively determine whether you have osteoporosis. Therefore, the examination for osteoporosis involves measuring bone density and bone markers, or combining these two methods to achieve a joint diagnosis. What is the gold standard for bone density measurement? It is DXA, which stands for Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry. Through the measurement of this instrument, a Z-score and T-score will be obtained, among which the T-score is mainly used as the diagnostic indicator, while the Z-score is primarily considered for differential diagnosis. Secondly, bone markers are tested, and large hospitals, especially tertiary hospitals, perform this test very well. So, if you suspect that you have osteoporosis and want to know what tests to take? These two tests would be sufficient.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jie
Orthopedics
51sec home-news-image

Can osteoporosis be treated with moxibustion?

Osteoporosis can manifest as pain in the lumbar and back areas, as well as in the joints. Moxibustion, with its effects of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, reducing swelling, and relieving pain, can alleviate these symptoms. However, to thoroughly treat osteoporosis, a causative treatment is necessary, which means taking oral medications specifically for osteoporosis, such as bisphosphonates, estrogen modulators, and calcitonin. These are some of the common medications used. Also, it is important to supplement with calcium and vitamin D, and get plenty of sunlight. Only then can osteoporosis be thoroughly cured through causative treatment. While moxibustion is effective, it does not solve the fundamental issue and is just one of the methods to relieve symptoms.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
52sec home-news-image

How to treat osteoporosis?

To address osteoporosis, it's crucial to determine whether it's primary or secondary in origin. For primary osteoporosis, it is advisable to appropriately supplement with calcium and vitamin D to facilitate bone formation and engage in suitable exercise to strengthen the bones. If the osteoporosis is severe, adding medications that promote bone formation and inhibit bone loss can aid in treatment. If a fracture occurs due to osteoporosis, it is first necessary to reposition and stabilize the fracture, while also using medications to prevent further osteoporosis. Osteoporosis caused by long-term immobilization after a fracture can be managed by increasing physical activity, which helps restore blood flow around the fractured area and prevent such osteoporosis.