There is a disease about which the medical profession is considerably mute, yet this disease contributes to death rates that are greater than 25% in the first year after a fall. The disease is osteoporosis.
Overall, medical physicians give a low priority to osteoporosis and think their patients share this view. But patients want information and guidance. Patients are very interested in a discussion about osteoporosis, but only 44% of medical doctors actually have this discussion with those patients who are interested.
This failure of the medical profession gives doctors of chiropractic an open door. May is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, and a patient handout has been created for you to share with your patients.
You have permission to distribute the below information to your patients in printed or digital form (you are restricted from posting the information on the internet). This type of effort can positively enhance our cultural authority. Preface the information with the following or similar introduction:
Dear Patient,
Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease. It is often called a “silent disease” because it can progress without any symptoms until a fracture occurs. May is National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, which provides us with an opportunity to share some information about osteoporosis and how to prevent it.
Best regards,
Dr. [Your full name]
A Nonpharmacological Approach to Bone Fracture Prevention
Significant bone loss and decreased bone strength are signals of osteoporosis, which can increase the risk of fracture. Osteoporosis affects people of all races and ethnicities and both sexes. In the United States, an estimated 10 million people age 50 and older have osteoporosis. Most of these people are women, but about 2 million are men.26
What Is the Relationship Between Osteoporosis and Bone Fractures?
It has been known for decades that low bone mineral density (BMD) is an important indicator of fracture risk.4,7,13 However, it has become apparent that a majority of fractures occur in non-osteoporotic people.10-11,14,18,21,25 The National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment observed that more than two-thirds of patients with fractures did not have osteoporosis.20
Overall, most fractures occur in those with BMD above the “osteoporotic” cutoff point. The majority of fractures are a result of previous fractures, falls, and advancing age (such as loss of muscle with advancing age and balance issues). Thus, the issue is not just low BMD, but also falls and advancing age.
Enhancing Skeletal Health and Improving Advancing-Age Issues
A major goal is to prevent falls and, by extension, fractures. The following recommendations are aimed at enhancing skeletal health and improving advancing age issues:
Exercise: High-quality evidence from two scientific reviews shows that cardio, resistance and weight training, and supervised balance training in adults can reduce the number of falls and fall-related fractures.15,19
Nutrition: A research team examined the relationship between the Mediterranean diet and the risk of falling in older adults.2 Participants with the highest adherence to the Mediterranean diet showed a 28% lower frequency of falling compared with those with the lowest adherence. Multiple systematic reviews have reported that higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with an 18% decreased risk of fracture.5,8,12
Smoking: Numerous peer-reviewed studies have found a link between smoking, reduced BMD values, and an increased incidence of fractures.1 The Surgeon General’s report causally linked tobacco smoking with several skeletal system disorders.23
Alcohol: Excess alcohol consumption is known to be detrimental to human health. Compared to non-drinkers, a 33% higher risk of fractures was found in those who consume three drinks of alcohol per day and a 41% higher risk with four alcoholic drinks per day.6 Interestingly, having one or two drinks a day was associated with a lower risk of osteoporosis.
Vitamin & Mineral Supplements: A review of six quality clinical trials using vitamin D and calcium supplements demonstrated a 16% reduced risk of fracture.27 In another high-quality study, the rate of injurious falls and injured fallers more than halved with strength and supervised balance training and vitamin D.24
Research teams have shown that inappropriate dosages (low and high) of vitamin D and calcium do not reduce fracture or fall rates.9,16,22,28 It also has been discovered that osteoporosis is linked to reduced magnesium levels.17 In a long-term study of over 48,000 participants, supplemental calcium and magnesium were associated with about a 40% reduction in fracture risk.3
The most effective and digestible form of vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium is cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), calcium citrate, and magnesium oxide, respectively. Recommended dietary allowances for adults are 800-1,200 units/day of vitamin D, 1,000-1,200 mg/day of calcium, and 400 mg/day of magnesium.
Before starting any of the above recommendations, consult with your doctor. References supporting the above information are available upon request from the clinic director.
References
When sports chiropractors first appeared at the Olympic Games in the 1980s, it was alongside individual athletes who had experienced the benefits of chiropractic care in their training and recovery processes at home. Fast forward to Paris 2024, where chiropractic care was available in the polyclinic for all athletes, and the attitude has now evolved to recognize that “every athlete deserves access to sports chiropractic."
It is estimated that 61% of patients with CTS avoid taking surgical options due to postoperative complications and costly surgical procedures. Chiropractic care offers a comprehensive and effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, addressing the condition from multiple angles. Recent studies also have unveiled a game-changing adjunct to chiropractic treatments for CTS: nerve flossing.
Some doctors thrive in a personality-based clinic and have a loyal following no matter what services or equipment they offer, but for most chiropractic offices who are trying to grow and expand, new equipment purchases help us stay relevant and continue to service our client base in the best, most up-to-date manner possible. So, regarding equipment purchasing: should you lease, get a bank loan, or pay cash?
