In osteoporosis, physical therapy is indicated to prevent complications, such as deformities and bone fractures, and also to strengthen muscles, bones and joints, to improve the patient's quality of life.
It also has the cardiac and respiratory benefits, as well as improving the person's balance, which also helps prevent falls. Physical therapy sessions can be done 2 to 4 times a week, either in the clinic or at home.
In addition, people suffering from osteoporosis should also carry a calcium-rich diet and properly take the medications prescribed by the doctor. Here's how to make a diet rich in calcium and suitable for osteoporosis.
Physiotherapy Exercises for Osteoporosis
The objectives of physical therapy exercises can be the prevention of deformities, such as hunchback position, improvement of muscle tone and maintenance of a good range of joints.
The exercises should always be individualized and guided by a physiotherapist, to adapt them according to the symptoms presented by the patient.
1. Stretching Exercises
A great exercise that helps to stretch, is to lie on your back on the floor and place them next to the chest with the support of the hands, as represented in the picture. You should remain in this position for about 1 minute and rest for about 10 seconds before performing the following exercise.
Another very effective stretching exercise is to get on your knees and lie down on them, as pictured, and stretch your arms as much as possible, but so as not to feel pain. You can also stay in this position for about 1 minute.
Lastly, the neck muscles can be lengthened and the person should sit on the floor with his back straight. With the help of the hands, and as you can see in the picture, the person should tilt the neck forward, to the right side and to the left side, waiting a few seconds in each of these positions.
2. Muscle strengthening exercises
A good exercise to strengthen the leg muscles is to sit in a chair with the back straight and lift the right leg, as represented in the picture, performing 12 repetitions. Then you should perform the same exercise with your left leg. It is advisable to do 3 sets per leg.
Then the person can stand, lean on the chair with his hands and bend the knee, raising the leg back, also performing 3 sets of 12 repetitions with each leg.
For the arms, exercises can be done with the help of weights, as represented in the image, performing 3 sets of 12 repetitions in each arm. The weight used in the exercise should be adapted to each person.
Other exercises for osteoporosis
Hydrokinesiotherapy exercises are also useful for strengthening the patient's muscles and joints with osteoporosis, and are particularly suitable for those who suffer from pain and have difficulty relaxing and moving out of the water. The warm pool water helps to relax the muscles, facilitating muscle contraction and joint movement.
Other exercises such as walking, dancing, water aerobics, pilates or yoga are also recommended in the treatment of osteoporosis because they help slow the loss of bone mass and improve balance and strength. However, these exercises should only be performed under the supervision of the physiotherapist. See other exercises for osteoporosis.
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