OSTEOPOROSIS & WOMEN'S HEALTH

Chartered Physiotherapists aim to give women the best care available at all stages of life.

For women of all ages relaxation techniques, stress control and healthy lifestyle management are all part of the Physiotherapists core skills. Physiotherapy may be necessary for specific conditions or it may involve advice on fitness, exercise, pregnancy, the menopause, incontinence and later year issues. 

Physiotherapy can help younger women with body awareness and posture, back pain and incontinence. During the childbearing years a physiotherapist can help with advice on prevention of pregnancy related musculoskeletal disorders, symphysis pubis dysfunction and pelvic pain. Following childbirth post-natal exercises and strengthening programmes may be required. In later years a physiotherapist will help women to understand the value of particular forms of exercise in the prevention of osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease.

Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become more fragile and more likely to break. Bones are a living tissue and need calcium, Vitamin D, proteins and normal hormone levels to remain healthy and strong. They also need weight bearing activities and exercise. Astronauts suffer a lot from Osteoporosis as they are not weight bearing when in space.

Mild bone density loss is called Osteopenia and early intervention through medication, exercise and lifestyle changes may halt it at this stage. Major bone density loss is called Osteoporosis. If untreated, people can commonly experience fractures of the hip, the spine and the wrist – but any bone affected can break. It is a silent disease and you may not know you have it until a bone breaks.

Bones are constantly breaking down and reforming during our lifetime but in Osteoporosis this ratio changes and more bone is lost than replaced. Osteoporosis can affect all age groups.