Build Bone Strength at Any Age to Prevent Fractures in Your Golden Years
Suzanne Graziano, left, NCH Nursing Director, & Jennifer Miller, NCH Total Joint Coordinator, will help a patient rebuild their body after an osteoporosis-related fracture at NCH.
Slumped shoulders, a neck jetted forward and back pain: even in young adults that could spell osteoporosis. Thankfully, prevention is also possible at any age. “It’s never too early or too late,” says Suzanne Graziano, NCH Director of 6 South Neurosciences, 5 South Orthopedics, 5 North General Surgery/Medical and 1 East Express/OBS. Though she typically sees patients after an osteoporosis- related fracture, Graziano wants to prevent them. Her advice for every age:
TEENS/YOUNG ADULTS: By age 28, our bodies have achieved maximum bone formation, and Graziano says posture is crucial in the years before. Extended time spent hunched over a mobile device puts unnecessary stress on your neck. To counter it, Graziano says regular stretching is key to proper body alignment. “Keep your spinal column straight,” she adds. “It is essential to strengthen your core and your spine.”
SENIORS: With diet and exercise, even someone who has low bone mass can control the progression. She recommends Qigong, a Chinese program of physical movements and breathing that is related to Tai Chi, for its therapeutic benefits and because it promotes balance and flexibility. Adding a fortified protein beverage or a smoothie to your diet will also encourage healthy bones. CHILDREN: Good habits last a lifetime. Eating a healthy diet is ideal, and parents should introduce a daily exercise during the child’s prime bone-building years, recommends Graziano, who also suggests eating organics. Skip the processed foods entirely, she says.
OVER 35: Our bone mass begins to decline, very slowly at first, and speeds up in our 50s and 60s. Risk factors and medical history increase that inevitable rate of loss, and post-menopausal women naturally begin to lose minerals found in their bones. Graziano suggests adding a nutritional supplement and one specific to bone building. Weight- bearing exercises have also proven to improve bone health. “You can strengthen bone integrity if you strengthen muscle integrity,” Graziano explains.
When to see a doctor: You may want to talk to your doctor about osteoporosis if you went through early menopause or took corticosteroids for several months at a time, or if either of your parents had hip fractures. Your family doctor may suggest bone density testing. Screening for osteoporosis is recommended for all women by age 65. Some guidelines also recommend screening men by age 70, especially if they have health issues likely to cause osteoporosis. If the bone density test is very abnormal or you have other complex health issues, you might be referred to a doctor who specializes in metabolic disorders (endocrinologist) or a doctor who specializes in diseases of the joints, muscles or bones (rheumatologist).
ALL AGES: Because bone is living tissue, our skeleton completely regenerates itself every seven years, explains Graziano. Get plenty of calcium, vitamin D and magnesium through diet or supplements.
Call Suzanne Graziano at (239) 624 - 3916 for more information on NCH Orthopedic Program
Occupational Therapy uses the Power of Play to Help Children with Sensory and Other Issues
Whatever life stage your child has reached, healthcare professionals urge parents and caregivers to seek help when their children exhibit signs of falling behind development norms. For example, is your toddler an overly picky eater? Or does he walk in a clumsy manner? Do your older children have poor handwriting? Or do they seem to misunderstand social cues or demonstrate a lack of body awareness? “Children really benefit from early intervention,” explains Charry Taylor, NCH pediatric occupational
occupational therapists may use visual cues as a strategy to help teach self- care and to develop consistent routines. The number one issue frustrating parents are feeding issues. Occupational therapy can help with texture aversions, extreme food or color preferences, as well as motor issues with chewing and swallowing. Occupational therapy supports children of all ages and developmental levels, and those with ADD/ADHD also benefit. “The occupational therapist will assess, then recommend and provide therapeutic activities like mindful movements, and other activities to help these kids thrive and get their bodies ready to learn,” explains Karen Clements, NCH pediatric occupational therapist. NCH offers occupational therapy at two Naples locations. Both have a Sensory Room filled with toys, crash mats, exercise balls, weighted vests and other equipment. “The space is attractive and inviting to the child,” Taylor explains. “Then we step in with play.”
therapist. “We assess the whole child, looking at their cognitive function, visual and motor skills, functional communication, their strengths and endurance and sensorimotor skills.” Typically, children spend 30 to 45 minutes with a therapist two to three times each week. For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder or for those with sensory processing issues, occupational therapy can teach them how to calm and focus themselves. Through play, therapists help these children learn how to make sense of the world, and give them the tools they need to function in society. “Many children we see will need to use these strategies their whole life,” says Taylor. Though much depends on an individual child’s developmental level, Charry Taylor, left, Karen Clements and Cynthia Mackey, NCH Pediatric Occupational Therapists. Charry Taylor, Cynthia Mackey and Karen Clements: NCH P diatric Occupat onal Ther pists.
For additional information, or to make an appointment, call one of these NCH Outpatient Rehab locations near you: NCH Outpatient Rehab at Greentree , 2330 Immokalee Rd, Suite 2, North Naples. Phone: (239) 624-6820 Southeast Outpatient Rehab , 7717 Collier Blvd, Suite 201, East Naples. Phone (239) 624-1900
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