|
|
| The last column discussed what sports injuries are and how to assess their severity. This column will tell you what to do when you have an acute sports injury. The three main goals... read more |
|
|
| Acute Sports Injuries are traumatic in nature. Some are very dramatic such as when Mike Foligno broke his leg at centre ice the season before last. Although his was a bone injury m... read more |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Barbara
Butler |
Barbara graduated from York University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a Certificate in Sport Therapy. She became a Certified Athletic Therapist in 1998... read more |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| » view all articles |
| |
Osteoporosis | Tuesday, April 11, 2006 |
|
 We hear a lot in the media lately of this dreaded problem of osteoporosis. What was once considered to be an ""old ladies disease"" it is affecting not only the old ladies but the younger ones as well. Not only that many women are predisposing themselves to having osteoporosis at an earlier age than expected or to a problem that they might avoid totally. The sad thing is that many women don't think about doing something about this until it is too late.
Osteoporosis refers to premature bone loss and/or inadequate bone formation, resulting in low total bone mass. The key factor is that you are then more prone to fractures, including stress fractures that we so commonly see in the athlete. In 1989 the Health Protection Branch reported that over 800,000 Canadians suffering from fractures of the hips, spine, ribs, and wrists.
Research indicates that at least 60-70% of a women's peak bone mass is acquired during the adolescent growth spurt. Bone loss starts at around age 35 unless there are problems at an earlier age. There is then a gradual decline until menopause when the loss is more rapid with the change in hormones. If a women does do her utmost to optimize her bone density in adolescence and early adulthood she may begin to lose her bone mass prematurely. Once she is at an older age the loss may be irreversible and she will be prone to the typical curved spine we so often see as well as the other fractures (the most common are in the wrist and hip). These can seriously affect not only the quality of your life but the length of your life as well. Death results from 15% of hip fractures.
The reason I am talking about women in this article is that women are much more prone to osteoporosis than men because they have lower peak bone mass in their thirties. This is compounded by an inadequate replacement of calcium lost during pregnancy and breast feeding and finally the change in hormone status as women go through menopause. There are other important risk factors as well. They are:
1/Heredity
2/ Small thin statures
3/ Dietary factors- low dietary intake of calcium, excess protein, high fat, high salt,
4/ Not having born a child
5/ Immobilization of a part of your body or total immobilization with illness
6/ Prolonged loss of menstruation at a young age(even temporarily for a year)
Osteoporosis is too often only diagnosed once a fracture occurs. Regular x-rays only reveal the problem after significant bone loss and are therefore unreliable in diagnosing this problem. There are now specific tests that we can do to determine your bone density.
As usual the best treatment is prevention. To keep your bones strong enough so they will not fracture you have to not only increase your peak bone density in early years but decrease the amount of bone loss in later years as much as possible. The following are tips to prevent osteoporosis:
1/ You have to have sufficient Calcium in your diet. Often Calcium supplements have to be used if your diet is deficient. Adolescents and post menopausal women require about 1500 mg per day while adults need about 800 mg.
2/ Young dancers, models, gymnasts, runners, or other athletes whose need to be thin, or excessive training causes them to not menstruate need professional help. Changes in diet and training or even hormone replacement therapy may be required.
3/ Post menopausal women may also consider hormone replacement therapy.
4/ Moderate weight bearing exercise increases bone mass and reduces the rate of loss in aging females. Childhood physical activity has a significant positive effect on bone mass.
5/ Researchers are looking at many other ways to prevent and treat osteoporosis.
So, do not wait until it is too late. Be aware of this serious problem and do your best to maintain your bones and lifestyle.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
