Our bone health matters a lot as we age. From being concerned with finding a treatment for osteoarthritis to a foot and ankle specialist in Singapore, our bones undergo gradual change over time. It gets weaker and thinner as we grow old due to hormonal changes within our bodies. The body reabsorbs the calcium and phosphate than storing them in the bones it needs, which results in a decline in active transport and diffusion of vital minerals for the bone.
Our bones remain a primary structure for supporting our whole body, allowing it to perform a wide range of movements and protect vital organs. It also serves as warehouse storage for the most crucial minerals, which our body will need when necessary. As we see, the bones are incredibly integral to our overall health and bodily function. However, it is prone to breaks, fractures and long-term, chronic health conditions that can deteriorate its condition over time. Hence, it becomes a must to see an orthopaedic doctor in Singapore now and then for our bone health.
The Importance Of Seeing A Doctor For Bone Health
Seeing an orthopaedic specialist check our bone health is common among seniors and less among the younger populace. An orthopaedist is your bone doctor who specialises in treating and diagnosing a variety of bone problems and injuries that can affect your lifestyle.
Here is one of the most common reasons to see a bone doctor or an orthopaedic specialist for your bone health:
They can help determine if you need surgery
Many people tend to shy away or get scared of surgery, convincing themselves it won’t help solve the problem and that they are better off handling and managing the pain on their own. However, the condition might leave them in a long-term or life-long dysfunction. Others might mistake that pain is temporary and a normal symptom of ageing that needs to be accepted. However, it isn’t always the case.
Seeing an orthopaedic specialist can provide you with the right diagnosis and treatment, whether your condition warrants surgery or a non-surgical option to improve patients’ quality of life.
Allow you to make it easier to perform daily tasks
Whether it’s an ankle specialist in Singapore for treating talus ailments or injury or an orthopaedist for osteoarthritis, the right doctor can help you deal with problems that limit your range of motion. It’s difficult to deal with the idea of being unable to perform a simple task, such as bending to pick up something from the floor, walking or jogging without feeling the pain and stiffness from your bones.
Prevents injuries
It’s a merit to see an orthopaedic specialist if you are experiencing bone-related pain caused by injuries, fractures, dislocation, tendon tear or ruptures. In other cases, if you are also an athlete, you’ll often have to work with an orthopaedist if you want to prevent future injuries or problems and optimise your body performance.
Since athletes are prone to injuries, an orthopaedist can provide you with much information you need to enhance your mobility and function and increase your quality of life while reducing pain and the chance of injuries.
How to Combat Bone Loss While Ageing?
As we have mentioned earlier, bone loss is something that is common and likely to happen as we grow older. Nonetheless, there are ways that you can implement to your daily lifestyle to prevent these changes from happening to your body, apart from seeing an orthopaedic specialist. Bone gets thinner and weaker, so how do we protect ourselves from bone loss? Here’s what you should do:
Always stay active
There’s a good reason why every physician and orthopaedic specialist recommends adults to be active, even while they age. A sedentary and inactive lifestyle is prone to numerous risks that can affect bone health, such as osteoporosis.
Introducing exercise to your daily routine can enhance your physical and mental wellness. Not only that, but it also prevents bone loss and stimulates its natural regeneration, which is essential for combatting the thinness of the bone. Getting at least 60 to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activities per week is a must for adults.
Control your body weight
Your body weight can be a determining factor in your bone health. Overweight and obese body can add unnecessary pressure to your bones and joints and alter bone cell metabolism. On the other hand, being underweight makes you prone to low bone mineral density, which weakens your bone, thus increasing your risk of bone fracture and osteoporosis. Thus almost every orthopaedic specialist and doctor recommends maintaining a balanced weight.
Control your diet
A balanced diet is among the key components to preventing the risk of bone density loss. Eating healthy foods can impact your orthopaedic health, and foods rich in calcium and protein with omega-3 fatty acids are primary nutrients and minerals for countering bone density loss. You can also ask for recommendations from your local orthopaedic specialist about proper food suitable for your current condition.
You should also consider refraining from or limiting your consumption of tobacco and alcohol, which causes deterioration of your bone health and accelerates bone loss. Apart from that, it also increases your risk of developing osteoporosis since alcohol impacts how your body is able to absorb calcium and vitamin D—which are both critical for bone health.
Conclusion
Your bone health matters, and learning how to look after it can help prevent bone loss as you age. A visit to an orthopaedic specialist and adjusting your lifestyle to attune to an active life carries significant improvement in how your bone functions even as you continue to age!
If you are looking for a well-trained and proficient orthopaedic doctor, Dr Kannan Kaliyaperumal can help you with your concerns! Visit Specialist Orthopaedic Centre for more info.
