25/04/2023
Why are old people stooped?
Osteoporosis causing vertebral collapse is the leading cause of back curvature, which not only causes pain but also affects the quality of life of the elderly.
Back curvature is a condition in which the vertebral body, especially the anterior part, collapses or destroys, causing the spine to tilt forward. Back curvature usually occurs in the dorsal-lumbar vertebrae. There are many causes for this condition, however, in the elderly, stooping is often due to osteoporosis causing vertebral collapse.
Back cramp reduces the quality of life of the elderly. Photo: Shutterstock
Back cramp reduces the quality of life of the elderly. Photo: Shutterstock
Doctor CKI Nguyen Tan Vu, Center for Orthopedic Trauma and Orthopedics, Tam Anh General Hospital, said that bones are made up of many minerals such as calcium, vitamin D, protein... Throughout life, bones are constantly metabolic. This process consists of two main parts, bone formation and bone resorption. Over time, with increasing age, bone-forming activity decreases while osteoclast activity increases. This reduces bone mass and degrades bone structure, causing osteoporosis. At this time, the patient can break a bone even with a minor injury; Even when no trauma occurs, the vertebrae still collapse due to body weight.
According to Dr. Nguyen Tan Vu, one of the first signs of vertebral collapse is a decrease in height and mobility of the spine. In addition, if the patient feels pain when turning, it may be a sign of acute vertebral collapse; If the collapsed vertebrae causes nerve compression, it will cause numbness in the legs, leg weakness, pain along the intercostal nerve roots, circular muscle disorders... However, in most cases, vertebral collapse does not There are obvious signs that the patient only accidentally discovered when performing imaging for other diseases.
Osteoporosis is one of the main causes of hunchback in the elderly. Photo: Shutterstock
Osteoporosis is one of the main causes of hunchback in the elderly. Photo: Shutterstock
Osteoporosis, vertebral collapse, if not treated in time, can seriously affect the patient's life such as difficulty in standing upright, easy fatigue; severe pain if acute vertebral collapse; susceptibility to fractures from falls and the risk of recurrent fractures; slow healing... Especially, if large bones such as the femur in the groin area are broken, treatment is difficult because the patient is elderly and has many underlying medical conditions. In addition, in the process of waiting for bone healing, the patient has to lie in one place for a long time. This leads to complications such as pneumonia, limb embolism, malnutrition, muscle atrophy.... contributing to an increased risk of death.
Treatment method will depend on the degree of vertebral collapse, accompanied by nerve damage or not. Spondylolisthesis without accompanying nerve damage will be indicated for medical treatment. Accordingly, the patient will be asked to rest in bed, use a brace to fix the spine to support and limit the movement of the collapsed vertebrae. Commonly prescribed drugs are analgesics, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants, anti-osteoporosis, osteoclasts, etc.
Vertebral spondylosis with moderate to severe nerve damage, unresponsive to conservative treatment after 2 months, will be indicated for surgical intervention. The patient may be prescribed a bio-cement pump, which helps push the vertebral body to swell and harden as before, overcoming the collapse. In case of severe vertebral collapse, major spinal deformity, the doctor will appoint surgery.
Bio-cement pump restores vertebrae bulge. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital
Bio-cement pump restores vertebrae bulge. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital
According to Dr. Nguyen Tan Vu, the most effective method to prevent disease is annual osteoporosis screening. The subjects who should be screened for osteoporosis are women 3 years after menopause, men over 70 years old... To accurately diagnose whether a patient has osteoporosis or not, Tam Anh General Hospital uses DEXA measurement method. This method uses X-rays to measure calcium and other minerals in bones; Usually measured at the spine, hip or wrist. The higher the bone density, the stronger the bones and the lower the risk of fracture.
In addition, a healthy diet and reasonable living helps prevent and slow down the process of bone density decline effectively. Patients should supplement enough calcium and vitamin D, increase foods rich in antioxidants such as vitamins C and E; Regular exercise with appropriate intensity to build strong bones, increase toughness and flexibility; do not smoke, drink alcohol and use stimulants; do not arbitrarily take drugs, especially anti-inflammatory pain relievers; visit your doctor periodically or when abnormalities appear.
![[JUST 2 MINUTES PER DAY] Unbelievably Boca Sure colostrum helps relieve knee and joint pain.- The best solution to save ...](https://img4.findhealthclinics.com/845/476/145785688454768.jpg)
