Osteoporosis in Older Men

In the past, we at the Central Virginia Chiropractic Center have discussed the role of osteoporosis in causing backaches and dysfunction. In order to keep our patients informed of the latest developments in our field, we wanted to pass along news of a study which found that osteoporosis often goes unrecognized as the cause of back pain in older men.

Osteoporosis is mostly found in older women and is linked to their hormonal changes. However, the disease is not uncommon in men, and failure to recognize it prevents patients from getting proper care or taking preventive measures. The new study found that only 28 out of 197 men with vertebral stress fractures were diagnosed by their physicians, but the vast majority of men with stress fractures complained of pain.

There are several factors which put people at risk for osteoporosis, including deficiencies of calcium and sunlight. Smoking, use of alcohol, and excessive aerobic exercise also increase the risk. We can treat pain associated with osteoporosis through measures such as massage and electric muscle stimulation, but the high rate of undetected stress fractures demonstrates the importance of maintaining regular check-ups.

Dr. Darlene Holland operates Central Virginia Chiropractic Center, Inc. at 7327 Timberlake Rd, Lynchburg, Virginia, 24502. To schedule an appointment, visit Central Virginia Chiropractic or call 434-237-0413.