Each year over 50 million Americans are affected by osteoporosis, a disease where the bones lose tissue and become brittle and fragile. In fact, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, 8.9 million fractures occur each year due to an osteoporotic fracture, or every three seconds. Below is information about this medical condition and when to seek Casper physical therapy.

1. Warning Signs: Early symptoms of osteoporosis have little to no obvious symptoms. As the disease progresses, the Mayo Clinic says some of the top symptoms include back pain, loss of height, stooped posture or frequent bone fractures. Women who have experienced menopause or those with Vitamin-D deficiencies are at higher risk to get osteoporosis, but just because you do not fall into either of those factors does not mean you are not at risk. It is definitely something to discuss with your doctor. If you experience any of the signs above, or pain or spine curvature, bring this up to your doctor.
2. Prevention: One of the best ways to get ahead of osteoporosis is to be screened. Women are the most at risk, and should start asking for screening at age 65. For men, the U.S. Preventative Task Force only advises to get screening if there are known symptoms of the disease. Some people are predisposed to the condition due to genetics, but that is not true for everyone. To help prevent it from happening, 30 minutes of exercise a day, especially strength training, will strengthen your bones. But various types of exercise that build strength and flexibility will help keep the quality of your bones strong, from yoga to aerobics. Ensuring you have proper posture is important as well. Also, you can also make sure you are getting enough calcium into your diet, which is not all from dairy. Calcium is found in many vegetables and soy products. Last, you can talk to your doctor about your Vitamin-D intake.
3. Physical Therapy: Upon receiving an osteoporosis diagnosis, physical therapy in Casper can help you with a treatment plan to prevent further bone breakage, and recovery from a fracture. It is also a great preventative method, in addition to the methods listed above. Physical therapy will have exercises to help you build bone strength in various weight-bearing activities from walking to weight lifting. Your physical therapist will provide you with a routine that is the best for you-- one which you can work on in the office, and at home as well. This will help reduce your risk for future bone fractures.  

North Platte Physical Therapy is your go-to premier physical therapy group in rural Wyoming and western Nebraska with a variety of services, including assistance with osteoporosis management. Whether you are dealing with the affects of osteoporosis or want to take preventative action, you can count on our local offices to help you get strong. Learn more about osteoporosis and methods and procedures, and then fill out a contact form to get started.