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OSTEOPOROSIS SCREENING
Click here to download our osteoporosis
screening questionnaire (pdf).
Northwest Primary Care is proud to announce the availability of osteoporosis screening, known as
Dexa scans. This service is available at our Northwest Therapy location.
Osteoporosis is a disease where the bones become fragile and more likely to break. If not prevented or left untreated, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone breaks. These broken bones, also known as fractures, occur typically in the hip, spine, and wrist.
Who is at risk?
- Personal history of fracture after age 50
- Current low bone mass
- History of fracture in a 1st degree relative
- Being female
- Being thin and/or having a small frame
- Advanced age
- A family history of osteoporosis
- Estrogen deficiency as a result of menopause, especially early or surgically induced
- Abnormal absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea)
- Anorexia nervosa
- Low lifetime calcium intake
- Use of certain medications, such as Prednisone and anticonvulsants
- Low testosterone levels in men
- An inactive lifestyle
- Current cigarette smoking
- Excessive use of alcohol
- Being Caucasian or Asian, although African Americans and Hispanic Americans are at significant risk as well
Women can lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the five to seven years following menopause, making them more susceptible to osteoporosis.
Can it be detected?
Specialized tests called bone density (BMD) tests can measure bone density in various sites of the body. These non-invasive , fully clothed tests take only 5-10 minutes, are painless, and can:
- Detect osteoporosis before a fracture occurs.
- Predict your chances of fracturing in the future.
- Determine rate of bone loss and monitor the response to treatment.
Can it be prevented?
There are four steps to prevent osteoporosis. No one step alone is enough to prevent osteoporosis but all four may. They are:
- A balanced diet rich in calcium (1200 mg/day) and vitamin D;
- Weight-bearing exercise;
- A healthy lifestyle with no smoking or excessive alcohol intake; and
- Bone density testing and medication, when appropriate.
Most insurance companies will pay for routine bone density screening for women age 65 and older. Call today for your appointment 503-659-4988.
Osteoporosis do's and dont's
DON’T:
Bend over to tie your shoes or put on socks.
Engage in ballistic types of exercise routines, such as high-impact aerobics, jumping rope, jogging.
Do exercises in the gym that bring you forward (e.g. sit-ups, touching your toes).
Bend from the waist to pick something up off the floor, out of the trunk of your car, or to brush your teeth, wash your face, etc.
Reach unnecessarily or twist your trunk when mopping, sweeping, vacuuming, raking, making beds, weeding gardens, getting objects out of cupboards, etc.
Sit down when your back aches.
DO:
Exercise that emphasizes gentle, controlled backward movement (Extension).
Bend at the knees, keeping your back as straight as possible.
Keep broom, mop, vacuum or rake close to you and move your whole body as you move them. Walk over to the area on which you are working. Arrange kitchen, bathroom and bedroom shelves so that frequently used items may be reached without excessive bending, twisting and reaching.
When your back hurts, lie down on your back with a small pillow under your head and one under your knees; or as outlined by your therapist.
Follow a regular exercise program that includes a variety of different weight-bearing activities, such as low-impact aerobics or walking, or as your Primary Healthcare Practitioner or Physical Therapist advises.
Bring one foot up, cross it over the opposite knee and bend forward at the hips to do the task. (Keep your back straight.)
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