Drink less for strong bones

How Does Alcohol Harm Your Bones?

When you imbibe too much -- 30 to 60 ml of alcohol every day -- the stomach does not absorb calcium adequately. Alcohol interferes with the pancreas and its absorption of calcium and vitamin D. Alcohol also affects the liver, which is important for activating vitamin D -- which is also important for calcium absorption.

The hormones important to bone health also go awry. Some studies suggest that alcohol decreases estrogen and can lead to irregular periods. As estrogen declines, bone remodeling slows and leads to bone loss. If you're in the menopausal years, this adds to the bone loss that's naturally occurring, says Kaur.

There's an increase in two potentially bone-damaging hormones, cortisol and parathyroid hormone. High levels of cortisol seen in people with alcoholism can decrease bone formation and increase bone breakdown. Chronic alcohol consumption also increases parathyroid hormone, which leaches calcium from the bone, she says.

Also, excess alcohol kills osteoblasts, the bone-making cells. To compound the problem, nutritional deficiencies from heavy drinking can lead to peripheral neuropathy -- nerve damage to hands and feet. And chronic alcohol abuse can affect balance, which can lead to falls.

Osteoporosis and bone physiology

This is an amazing educational site for physicians and patients. Site maintained by Susan Ott, MD Professor of Medicine University of Washington.

Womenshealthapta.org

What Does A Women's Health Physical Therapist Do?

The emphasis of the health sciences on fitness and wellness has brought to women's attention a need to pay closer attention to their bodies during recreation, work, and throughout life. Many physical therapists have specialized training which will benefit women with a variety of medical conditions. These therapists use every facet of their physical therapy training to evaluate and treat female clients, promoting and enhancing health through the life span. All treatments are individually designed after thorough evaluation.

Examples of Conditions Treated included:

Lymphedema

Osteoporosis

Pelvic Pain

The Prenatal & Postpartum Periods

Urinary Incontinence

Other Questions

What is a Kegel

Talking about your Condition

Questions to ask your Physical Therapist

Do I need a Referral for Physical Therapy

What to expect on your first visit for urinary incontinence

Sample Bladder Diary

Talking with Your Doctor…

Total hip replacement rehab protocol

Ellis & Badenhausen Orthopedics, PSC is dedicated to providing the Louisville community with the highest quality of orthopaedic service. We will ensure that patient care remains the focus of our medical practice by maintaining an experienced staff and by keeping on the forefront of medical technology and research.

The following protocol should be used as a guideline for rehabilitation progression, but may need to be altered pending the nature and extent of the surgical procedure, healing restraints or patient tolerance.

Treatment guidelines: osteoporosis

The Royal Dutch Society for Physical Therapy has created some really state of the art guidelines documents for physio therapeutic treatment of some major pathologies. I have presented that before, but I thought it would be useful for students to have access to each treatment guideline separately in this blog.

So, here is the guideline for osteoporosis.