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 Lv Yao
Orthopedics
29sec home-news-image

Causes of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is caused by two types of reasons, one is primary disease, and the other is secondary disease. Primary disease is commonly seen in postmenopausal women, as well as in some chronic strain injuries, and the occurrence of some metabolic diseases, which accounts for primary osteoporosis. Secondary osteoporosis may be due to trauma, long-term plaster immobilization, or lack of weight bearing after surgical fixation, leading to disuse osteoporosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Xie Yi Song
Orthopedics
1min 26sec home-news-image

What to do if osteoporosis causes leg pain?

To alleviate leg pain caused by osteoporosis, it is important to pay attention to a reasonable diet and regular exercise. Maintaining a balanced diet to ensure sufficient intake of calcium and vitamin D is crucial, with options such as high-calcium, low-fat fresh milk, cheese, cow milk, and dark green vegetables being the best choices. Based on the imbalance of yin and yang in the body, regularly taking kidney-nourishing products can to a certain extent stabilize and enhance the level of human sex hormones, indirectly inhibiting the bone-resorbing activity of osteoclasts. Smoking should be avoided, excessive drinking should be prevented, and timely prevention of systemic metabolic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and gout is essential. Elderly individuals with leg pain should persist with gradual and progressive exercise, such as swimming, practicing health exercises, Tai Chi, and walking. These activities not only can alleviate the loss of bone mass but also significantly increase the content of bone salts and promote the activity of bone cells. However, engaging in intense physical activities, especially those that cause excessive muscle soreness, should be avoided. If continual leg pain is experienced, it is advisable to visit a hospital for examination to determine if it is caused by osteoporosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhao Xin Lan
Endocrinology
44sec home-news-image

What should I do about osteoporosis?

Once osteoporosis is diagnosed, the first step is to change lifestyle habits. For example, if someone likes to drink strong tea and coffee and dislikes exercise, these unhealthy habits should be changed. Additionally, it's beneficial to get more sun exposure, and to supplement the treatment with calcium and vitamin D. Then, it is necessary to visit the hospital and consult a specialized clinic for osteoporosis or the department of metabolic endocrinology for targeted medical intervention, to prevent the condition from worsening and avoid fractures.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lv Yao
Orthopedics
51sec home-news-image

What to do with osteoporosis?

When osteoporosis occurs, it is first important to determine the cause of the osteoporosis, whether it's due to postmenopausal women, overuse injuries, or osteoporosis caused by long periods of immobilization following trauma. If such osteoporosis occurs, it is advisable to appropriately supplement with calcium and vitamin D, especially for postmenopausal women and elderly individuals affected by degenerative changes. These supplements can be taken orally, and appropriate physical exercise can be incorporated to increase bone strength and achieve recovery. In cases of disuse osteoporosis, appropriate functional exercises should be performed to allow for active muscle contractions and slight weight-bearing by the bones, which promotes circulation around the bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 15sec home-news-image

What are the symptoms of osteoporosis?

What are the symptoms of osteoporosis? Previously there were three categories, but the latest 2017 treatment guidelines have changed it to four categories: First, pain. This mainly manifests as pain in the lower back or pain throughout the bones of the body. Second, spinal deformation. Severe osteoporosis can cause a person to stoop and hunchback, and it can even lead to a decrease in a person's height and cause limited spinal mobility. Third, fractures. Fractures due to osteoporosis belong to the category of fragile fractures. These are fractures that can occur with very low energy or minor trauma. Common sites include the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, hip fractures, the distal radius and ulna, as well as the humerus and tibia, so sometimes, just a simple fall or being bumped by a door can result in a fracture. Fourth, impacts on psychological states and quality of life. Sometimes after developing osteoporosis, a person may experience fear, anxiety, depression, and loss of self-confidence, which directly leads to reduced contact with the outside world and a decline in the quality of independent living.