Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOsteoporosis SymptomsChiropractic TreatmentSafety and RisksPrevention and TreatmentFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Osteoporosis Symptoms
Chiropractic Treatment
Safety and Risks
Prevention and Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
Chiropractic care does not treatosteoporosisdirectly, but some people with osteoporosis may wish to use it for symptoms associated with osteoporosis or other musculoskeletal conditions.
Because chiropractic manipulations apply pressure to bones, people with osteoporosis may be advised to avoid chiropractic care.Modified chiropractic care may be performed with special care taken to avoid injury if a person’s healthcare provider approves.
In osteoporosis, bones lose minerals like calcium faster than the body can replace them. They become less dense and more vulnerable to fractures.Osteoporosisusually is treated and prevented with lifestyle practices, such as diet and exercise, and sometimes medication, but more treatment options are always being explored.
This article will discuss the benefits and risks of chiropractic care for someone with osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis Symptoms and Long-Term Effects
People with osteoporosis may experience no symptoms at all, especially in theearly stages. Without testing, the first sign of osteoporosis is often a fracture.
Osteoporosis causes a loss in bone mass and structural deterioration in the bone. These changes can be found with properscreening and testingbefore a fracture occurs.
Fractures can happen anywhere, but the ones most commonly associated with osteoporosis are:
Complicationsfrom fractures due to osteoporosis include:
Is Chiropractic Treatment Helpful for Osteoporosis?
There is insufficient evidence to show that chiropractic care can treat osteoporosis directly or indirectly. While about 15% of people who see a chiropractor are age 65 or over, often they visit the chiropractor to addressmusculoskeletalproblems.
Safety and Risks of Chiropractic Care
Spinal manipulation can pose a risk of injury, including bone fracture, inpeople with osteoporosis. Some healthcare providers recommend against chiropractic care for people with osteoporosis in general or in certain areas, such as the spine or neck.
Making adjustments to the treatment, such as using lower-force techniques, may be an option for people with osteoporosis if their healthcare provider indicates it is safe for them to do so.
If you choose to see a chiropractor, check their credentials and whether they have training and experience treating people with osteoporosis.
Before providing treatment, chiropractors shouldscreen for risk factorsfor osteoporosis. Some factors contributing to the incidence of osteoporosis are:
Talking to Your Healthcare ProviderAlways talk to your healthcare provider before starting alternative or complementarytreatmentsuch as chiropractic care.
Talking to Your Healthcare Provider
Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting alternative or complementarytreatmentsuch as chiropractic care.
Other Ways to Prevent and Treat Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis doesn’t have a standard, universal treatment. Care is determined based on a patient’s specific needs and factors such as fracture risk.
Nutrition
If the body does not get enough calcium from outside sources, it will take it from the bones. Getting enough calcium in your diet is an important step to building healthy bones and keeping them strong.
How much calcium a person needs depends on factors such as age, sex, and whether pregnant or lactating (breastfeeding).
Foods that are a good source of calcium include:
If you aren’t able to get enough calcium through diet, your healthcare provider may recommend that you take calciumsupplements.
Vitamin D can also be obtained through some foods, but getting enough vitamin D through diet alone is unlikely. Small quantities of vitamin D can be found in foods such as:
Talk to your healthcare provider about testing your vitamin D levels to see if you would benefit from takingvitamin D supplements.
Exercise
Weight-bearing exercise (activities that make the body work against gravity) doesn’t treatexisting osteoporosis, but it encourages bone density and is a good way to help prevent osteoporosis. It can also improve balance which reduces the risk of falling (a common cause of osteoporosis-related fractures).
Benefits from exercise start to diminish once exercise is stopped, so developing a lifelong habit of staying active is most effective.
Try to aim for a combination of weight-bearing, muscle-strengthening, and balance training exercises in 30- to 40-minute sessions four to six days a week, or 75-minute sessions twice a week.
Exercises for bone growth need to include variety. Some activities to try are:
If it is safe for you to do so, you can add in some higher-impact activities, such as jumping rope.
Activities such as swimming, cycling, and other non-weight-bearing activities, do not promote bone growth, but have other health benefits.
Whether you have osteoporosis or not, always talk to your healthcare provider before starting a new activity or exercise routine.
Quit Smoking and Avoid or Limit Certain Substances
Some substances can increase the risk of developing osteoporosis, including:
Avoiding Falls
About 1 in 4 people 65 and older in the United States report falling each year, and 37% of those who fall sustain an injury.Osteoporosiscan put you at risk of fractures from even a minor fall.
Some measures you can take to reduce your risk of falling include:
It’s Never Too Early to StartThe best way toprevent osteoporosisis to start early. Lifestyle practices, such as getting enough calcium and exercise, when you are young can help you maximize bone density before it begins to decline with age.
It’s Never Too Early to Start
The best way toprevent osteoporosisis to start early. Lifestyle practices, such as getting enough calcium and exercise, when you are young can help you maximize bone density before it begins to decline with age.
Medication
If you have or are at risk for osteoporosis, your healthcare provider may suggest taking medication to help slow bone loss and stimulate new bone formation, particularly if you havebeen through menopause. These may include:
Hormone-based treatments may also be suggested, including:
Surgery
Those with recent vertebral fractures that arecausing them painand that are not responding to more conservative measures may be considered for treatments such as:
Summary
There isn’t enough evidence to support chiropractic care as a treatment for osteoporosis, but some chiropractors promote it as a way to help people with osteoporosis manage their symptoms.
People with osteoporosis may be advised to avoid chiropractic care. If their healthcare provider says it is safe, modified chiropractic care may be done. Chiropractors should screen clients forrisk factorsof osteoporosis before providing treatment.
Measures that can help treat or prevent osteoporosis include getting enough calcium and vitamin D, engaging in weight-bearing and balanceexercises, reducing fall risks, avoiding smoking, avoiding or limiting alcohol and caffeine, and in some cases, medicine and/or surgery.
People with osteoporosis should consult their healthcare provider before beginning chiropractic care, an exercise program, or any other treatment.
Learn MoreOsteopenia vs. Osteoporosis: What Are the Differences?
How often you receive chiropractic care depends on many factors such as the reason for your visit and other conditions you may have. The best practice is to check with your healthcare provider about what is safe and how often it is necessary.Learn MoreWhat Is a Chiropractor?
How often you receive chiropractic care depends on many factors such as the reason for your visit and other conditions you may have. The best practice is to check with your healthcare provider about what is safe and how often it is necessary.
Learn MoreWhat Is a Chiropractor?
Treatment for osteoporosis is individualized based on factors such as age, sex, and history of previous fractures. In addition to lifestyle habits such as getting enough calcium and vitamin D and engaging in bone-strengthening exercise, some people with osteoporosis may be prescribed medication and/or hormone therapy.Learn MoreHow to Treat Osteoporosis
Treatment for osteoporosis is individualized based on factors such as age, sex, and history of previous fractures. In addition to lifestyle habits such as getting enough calcium and vitamin D and engaging in bone-strengthening exercise, some people with osteoporosis may be prescribed medication and/or hormone therapy.
Learn MoreHow to Treat Osteoporosis
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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