Bone and Joint Health

5/1/2023

It’s never too late to start taking care of your bones and joints

Osteoporosis is called “The Silent Killer” not because it is fatal, but because it has no symptoms until it is too late. It is often confused with osteoarthritis, which is a condition where the cartilage on the ends of the joints wears out and causes severe pain. Osteoporosis is a condition where the bone loses density and mass which makes it weak.

Unlike osteoarthritis, osteoporosis does not hurt. It has no warning signs at all until the bone becomes so weak that it breaks and teeth fall out. The fracture can occur from a fall that in a person with normal bone would have only caused a bad bruise. The bone can become so weak that the hip can fracture simply by walking or standing up. Spinal vertebral bodies can collapse simply under the weight of the person sitting in a chair. These injuries can lead to major surgeries like hip replacement and spine surgery.

“Bone mass, or bone mineral density, peaks at about 25 to 30 years old. At the age of 40 bone mass decreases at a rate of about 2% a year. Most people think of osteoporosis as a geriatric problem, but the best treatment is to start prevention at an early age,” says Dr. Thomas Satterly III, an orthopedic surgeon at The Orthopedic Center at Northwest. “Proper nutrition is necessary to ensure the bone has the proper building blocks it needs to remain strong. This means eating a diet rich in calcium (i.e., at least 1,000 mg/day for adults up to age 50, and 1,200-1,500 for those over age 65) and vitamin D, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Resistance exercise and impact exercises like lifting weights and walking, hiking, or even dancing are important for bone health as well because the bone responds to stress by making more bone.”

Many people that have osteoporosis also have osteoarthritis which limits their ability to do high impact activity. Exercises that are kind on our joints include swimming, yoga and bicycling. Activities that emphasize range of motion, strength development and endurance help preserve good joint function.

It is also important to follow your doctor’s recommendations for necessary screenings, such as a bone density test, which determines your bone mass and likelihood of developing osteoporosis. All women 65 years and older should have this test, as well as women or men aged 50 or older who have a broken bone or one or more known risk factors.

Caring for your bones and joints is a lifelong journey, and it’s imperative to be proactive: eating right, getting plenty of exercise, and safeguarding against injury. By doing the right things now, patients reap the benefits of staying pain-free and active, later in life.

Healthy bones are critical for a thriving lifestyle, which is why it’s essential to work with a bone specialist if you have osteoporosis. At The Orthopedic Center at Northwest, we help our patients with medical treatments and lifestyle changes to slow, reverse, or prevent the risk of osteoporosis. To request an appointment with Dr. Satterly III, call (479) 757-5354.

Back