Osteoporosis is a condition in which weak bones become more prone to fracture. This disease usually strikes women after menopause and usually affects hip, wrist or spine bones.
Traditional treatments for osteoporosis typically include medication, weight-bearing exercises and healthy diet. There has also been increasing interest in alternative therapies as potential ways of helping reduce or reverse bone damage.
Acupuncture
The World Health Organization and National Institutes of Health recognize acupuncture’s efficacy for treating various conditions, including osteoporosis. Traditional acupuncture uses small needles that stimulate specific points in the body. Acupuncture has also been proven to relieve chemotherapy- and surgery-induced pain as well as nausea and vomiting associated with these therapies, while helping reduce bone fracture risk associated with osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a bone disease in which bones become fragile and break more easily from simple activities, like bending over or lifting heavy objects. Fractures often occur in the hip, wrist or spine – often leading to death among elderly individuals. More likely to affect women than men but can affect both sexes at any age.
Traditional treatment methods involve hormone replacement drugs and bisphosphonates – drugs designed to stop bone mass loss and slow or prevent fractures – as well as medicines from the bisphosphonate family, but they may cause side effects like nausea or heartburn; alternative herbal therapies are being researched in an attempt to stop bone loss without adverse side effects caused by synthetic medicines.
Exercise and a healthy diet both play an essential part in maintaining bone density. Doctors may recommend weight-bearing exercises like walking or jogging as well as physical activities which enhance balance and flexibility to strengthen bones. They may also suggest supplements like calcium and vitamin D as ways to support their wellbeing.
Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine and forms part of its larger system of healing, which also includes herbal medicine, massage therapy and yoga. Practitioners trained in this system understand the relationship between all parts of the body, so as to restore balance to them all. Aside from acupuncture itself, practitioners may recommend breathing exercises, relaxation techniques or nutritional advice as well as certain herbs taken orally; clients are advised to check with their physicians first before taking these herbs as some could interact with prescription or OTC medications*.
Yoga
Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice that emphasizes breathing, flexibility and strength. Originating in India, its practice has since spread worldwide through asanas (physical postures) such as breath control meditation relaxation exercises aimed at improving balance, flexibility and strength while decreasing stress levels. Yoga may even help prevent osteoporosis when conducted regularly under supervision by an allied health professional.
Yoga means “union,” and its practitioners believe that practicing it can unite both mind and body for spiritual enlightenment. Physical postures associated with yoga have also been shown to have benefits on overall health and well-being, including lower blood pressure. Yoga can be practiced by people of all ages and fitness levels – though certain poses should not be performed by those suffering from specific medical conditions.
Research into yoga’s effectiveness at managing symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as its ability to prevent osteoporosis is ongoing, yet most of this work focuses on women, non-Hispanic Whites with higher incomes – leaving its potential benefits unclear for other populations.
As most yoga studies have been conducted in the US, its effects on populations from other parts of the world have yet to be studied; therefore, its potential to improve quality of life for people suffering from other health conditions remains untested.
Numerous studies suggest that yoga may help reduce the risk of osteoporosis by encouraging weight-bearing exercise that stimulates bone cells to produce new ones and slow bone loss. Furthermore, yoga improves balance, strength and flexibility as well as decreasing back pain and poor posture.
Yoga’s benefits can be further extended when combined with complementary therapies like acupuncture and massage, two therapies which have numerous therapeutic uses. Massage is used to relieve muscle tension, increase range of motion and decrease swelling – as well as ease arthritis pain. When combined with herbal remedies like horsetail (Eupatorium perfoliatum), its silicon-rich properties can promote healthier bones.
Massage
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become fragile and more likely to fracture, with massage as one potential way of alleviating symptoms and increasing bone strength through increased circulation and stress reduction. Massage may also relieve pain by releasing endorphins – your body’s natural painkillers – as well as relaxing muscles around painful areas.
Swedish massage therapy can be an ideal treatment option for osteoporosis, offering gentle yet effective blood and lymph circulation improvements while simultaneously eliminating metabolic waste products and increasing flexibility. If you suffer from osteoporosis, however, please speak with a practitioner regarding what pressure settings and precautions would best suit your condition.
At this treatment, your therapist applies oil or lotion to allow for smooth hand movements over the surface of the skin and tissue beneath it. Different strokes such as effleurage, petrissage and kneading may be employed to manipulate these tissues and release tension in them. Furthermore, your therapist must avoid placing too much pressure on delicate bones by passing his/her hands over bony prominences.
Massage for osteoporosis may include cupping therapy, in which cups are applied directly to the skin in suction or sliding motions to improve bone circulation, potentially aiding healing and alleviating pain. However, for best results and safety purposes this massage therapy must only be carried out by qualified and experienced massage therapists who take all appropriate safety measures.
Massage can provide a natural way to alleviate pain, stiffness and tension associated with osteoporosis as well as other conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia. When integrated into an overall holistic treatment plan for osteoporosis, massage therapy can boost quality of life while managing symptoms and preventing further bone loss. Speak to both your physician and licensed massage therapist about how massage therapy could benefit you in managing symptoms or even stopping further bone loss altogether. Make an appointment to talk about this therapy further and discover its full benefits; sooner rather than later will always be better!
Diet
Osteoporosis is a condition that reduces bone density and increases fracture risk, typically through diet or nutritional supplement use. While medications can slow bone loss, smart dietary choices and nutritional supplements are equally effective at slowing its progression – calcium, vitamin D and protein-rich diets may help delay or even reverse osteoporosis’s onset or progression. Exercise also plays a vital role in maintaining healthy bones: weight training stimulates cells to create new ones while slowing their decline over time – starting exercising early can yield maximum benefit; start weight training now to maximize benefits!
Diets that contribute to good health can include foods such as dairy, fortified juices, fatty fish, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables. Eating these items will increase bone density and strength while decreasing the risk of osteoporosis or fragility fractures. Alcohol should be limited or avoided altogether as its consumption can exacerbate osteoporosis leading to broken bones.
Alternative care practitioners often suggest red clover as an effective treatment for osteoporosis, as its estrogen-like compounds help slow bone loss. It should be noted, however, that red clover can interfere with certain medications and should only be taken under doctor supervision. Estrogen once played an integral part in postmenopausal treatment plans but has now been shown to increase risks such as blood clots, endometrial cancer and breast cancer risk; today it is usually reserved for women at high fracture risk who cannot benefit from other forms of treatment.
Natural treatments may help slow or stop osteoporosis in some people, while doctors will typically suggest medication in addition to lifestyle changes. Bisphosphonates, which strengthen bones and lower the likelihood of breaking, can be taken orally or through intravenous injection. For older individuals having difficulty swallowing pills orally, intravenous forms (ibandronate or zoledronic acid) may provide greater convenience without causing stomach upset like oral bisphosphonates do.
