- 1. Use of medicines
- 2. Practice of physical exercise
- 3. Adapted food
- Is osteoporosis curable?
- When to perform bone densitometry
The treatment for osteoporosis is aimed at strengthening the bones. Thus, it is very common for people who are undergoing treatment, or who are doing disease prevention, in addition to increasing food intake with calcium, to also supplement calcium and vitamin D. However, this type of supplementation should always be guided by the doctor, to avoid being harmful to health.
Some general recommendations include regular practice of moderate physical exercise, as well as the abandonment of some more harmful practices such as the use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs, for example. For this reason, it is usually necessary to resort to a multidisciplinary team, where the orthopedist, endocrinologist, geriatrician, nutritionist, physiotherapist, psychologist and physical trainer, perform the treatment together.
Thus, when symptoms such as frequent fractures or constant pain in the bones appear, it is important to consult the doctor to assess the possibility of being osteoporosis and start the appropriate treatment. See what signs may indicate osteoporosis.
Some of the most used forms of treatment are:
1. Use of medicines
The remedies for osteoporosis should be taken daily when indicated by the doctor and can be:
- Calcitonin in injectable or inhaled form: prevents calcium levels from getting too high in the bloodstream; Strontium ranelate: increases bone formation; Teriparatide injectable form: reduces the risk of bone fractures; Calcium and vitamin D supplement: help to restore the levels of these nutrients in the body, promoting bone health, in addition to food.
The use of these remedies should only be done with the guidance of the doctor, since it is necessary to adjust the dose and duration of treatment to each specific situation. Get to know other examples and how remedies for osteoporosis work.
In order to control bone loss, the doctor may also request bone densitometry every 12 months or for shorter periods, depending on each case, in order to adjust the dose of the medication.
2. Practice of physical exercise
Physical activity is a great ally to strengthen bones because in addition to favoring the entry of calcium into the bones, it also prevents loss of bone density and even improves the balance of muscle strength, preventing falls that can have serious consequences in people with osteoporosis.
To achieve these benefits, moderate physical activity with a slight impact is recommended, such as walking, at least 30 to 40 minutes per session, 2 to 3 times a week. Another good activity to join the race is weight training, as it is the best way to strengthen muscles and joints, however, it is important that this activity is guided by a doctor or physical activity professional who helps to adapt to the rich of osteoporosis.
Generally, exercises are the first line of treatment against osteopenia, before osteoporosis sets in, because when the disease is advanced, medication is required.
3. Adapted food
The nutritional treatment for osteoporosis can be done through a diet rich in calcium. Good tips are to add grated cheese, almond or sour cream to meals, if possible, and in snacks give preference to yogurts enriched with vitamin D, for example. However, the osteoporosis diet does not exclude the need to ingest the drugs prescribed by the doctor, or the practice of exercise.
See what foods can be useful to help strengthen your bones and find out some tips to keep your bones strong in this video by our nutritionist and physiotherapist:
Is osteoporosis curable?
Osteoporosis has no cure, but it is possible to improve bone mass by making bones stronger and with less risk of fracture when carrying out treatment with drugs, food and exercises that should be followed for a lifetime.
When to perform bone densitometry
Bone densitometry is the test that evaluates bone mass and should be performed on women over 65 and men over 70. In addition, there are special situations in which this test can be recommended, such as women in pre or post menopause, as well as people who are undergoing hormone replacement, continuous use of corticosteroids or treatment with diuretics and anticonvulsants, for example.
Understand more about what bone densitometry is and when it should be done.
