title: [Physiotherapy interventions in osteoporosis].
abstract: Osteoporosis is an increasing public health problem which ultimately causes fractures and a significant reduction in patient's health-related quality of life. In this context, physiotherapists are involved in a wide range of therapies related both to prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. The reduction of the risk of falling by elderly patients with osteoporosis is a very important goal for physiotherapists because it is known to significantly decrease fracture incidence. Indeed, exercise programs including elements of muscle strengthening and better body balance control have a positive effect on the risk of falling, hence reducing the incidence of fractures and increasing the health-related quality of life of osteoporotic patients. As a further consequence, the decreased fracture incidence has a key roll in reducing health care costs. Once a patient presents with an osteoporotic fracture, he may be assisted with various forms of passive, active-assisted and active therapies. This treatment will help reduce pain, increase patient's mobility and prevent the occurrence of additional fractures. In addition, a good and well-balanced education process regarding secondary osteoporosis prevention may also help to modify the behavior of patients and help to improve skeletal health in the longer term. The physiotherapist has definitively a major role to play in the interdisciplinary team aimed at preventing osteoporotic fractures in both primary and secondary prevention levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Institute of Physical Medicine, University Hospital Zürich, Gloriastrasse 25, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland. jaap.swanenburg@usz.ch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swanenburg
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: De Bruin
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Uebelhart
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012307:Risk Factors