Causes and How to Treat of Osteoporosis, Bone Fracture, Gout, and Tendinitis

A.  OSTEOPOROSIS

Do you know what Osteoporosis is???

Osteoporosis is a disease that attacks the muculoskeletal system, which is characterized by reduced bone density causing cropos. This condition causes the bone to become cartilage experiencing fractures (fractures). The disease most often causes fractures in the pelvis, spine and wrist. Osteoporosis is often assumed to only occur in people with old age, but in fact this disease can also occur in adolescents. Osteoporosis that is left untreated will cause problems with heart health, especially coronary heart disease. So never underestimate this disease because osteoporosis will have a negative impact on our bodies if not handled properly. Therefore we must start maintaining our bone health early so that our bones remain healthy and not infected with bone diseases such as osteoporosois. So we must know what can cause osteoporosis so that we can anticipate it and avoid it. The following are the causes of osteoporosis.

CAUSES

1.      Gender

Osteoporosis is more common in women. This is due to the influence of the hormone estrogen whose levels begin to decrease in the body since the age of 35 years. In addition, women also experience menopause which can occur at the age of 45 years.

2.      Age

With age, bone loss occurs faster, and new bone growth is slower. Over time, your bones can weaken and your risk of osteoporosis increases.

3.      Diet

Starting in childhood through old age, a diet low in calcium and vitamin D can increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures. Excessive diet or poor protein intake can increase the risk of bone loss and osteoporosis.

4.      Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle is important to maintain bone strength. Factors that contribute to bone loss include:

·         Low levels of physical activity and prolonged periods of inactivity can contribute to an increase in the rate of bone loss. It also makes the physical condition worse, which can increase the risk of falls and fractures.

·         Chronically drinking large amounts of alcohol is a significant risk factor for osteoporosis.

·         Smoking habits and alcohol consumption, there have been many studies that show that smoking habits and alcohol consumption can cause the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

5.      Drug use

Long-term use of certain drugs such as the use of cancer drugs, antiepileptics, etc.

6.      Weight

Women and men with thin bodies have a greater risk of osteoporosis because they have low bone density as a result of which there is an increased risk of osteoporosis.

7.      Hereditary Factor

Researchers have mentioned that the offspring of people who have osteoporosis will be more at high risk of contracting osteoporosis.

TREATMENT

Actions that can be taken to treat osteoporosis are:

1.      Non Pharmacological Therapy

·         Sufficient nutritional needs

Osteoporosis patients should get adequate nutrition and maintenance of ideal body weight. A diet high in calcium is important for maintaining bone density. These nutrients can be in the form of vitamin D which can be obtained from broccoli, nuts, anchovies, salmon, milk, egg yolks, liver and sardine as well as sun exposure.

·         Regular exercise

Sports such as walking, jogging, and gymnastics can be beneficial in preventing bone fragility and fractures. This can maintain bone strength (Chisholm-burns et al, 2008). The principle of physical exercise for bone health is weight training, dynamic and rhythmic movements, and endurance training (relaxation) in the form of low impact aerobics.

2.      Pharmacological Therapy

In addition to non-pharmacological therapies, there are also pharmacological therapies that can overcome osteoporosis. Pharmacological therapy in patients with osteoporosis can be given calcium, vitamin D, bisphosphonates, Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs), calcitonin, phytoestrogens and teriparatide.

B.  BONE FRACTURE

Bone Fracture  a condition when a bone is broken so that its shape or even position changes. Fractures can occur if the bone receives pressure or impact whose strength is greater than the strength of the bone. Fractures can occur in any part of the body, but are more common in the bones of the feet, hands, ribs and collarbones.

CAUSES

Fractures occur when bones receive pressure that is greater than the bone can tolerate. The greater the pressure received by the bones, generally the greater the severity of the fracture.

 

• Conditions that can cause bone fractures include:
• Injuries resulting from falls, accidents, or fights
• Injuries due to repetitive shocks, for example when marching or playing sports
• Diseases that can weaken bones, such as osteoporosis, genetic disorders that cause brittle bones (osteogenesis imperfecta), bone infections (osteomyelitis), and bone cancer

TREATMENT

Fracture treatment includes:

• Administering medication, to relieve pain and prevent infection in open fractures
• Placing a cast made of plaster or fiberglass, to prevent the broken bone from moving during the healing process
• Traction, to align the broken bones and stretch the surrounding muscles and tendons
• Surgery, to connect broken bones using special pens, plates, screws and rods

C.  GOUT

Gout is a medical condition that occurs due to disorders of uric acid metabolism in the body. Gout can be said to be arthritis that occurs due to the buildup of uric acid crystals. This condition can occur in any part of the joint, such as in the ankle, in the toes, knees, and most often occurs in the big toe.

Gout can cause unbearable pain, swelling, and heat in the joint area that has gout. Generally, gout more often attacks men, especially those over the age of 30 years. While in women, it is more common when after menopause. The pain experienced by people with gout can last about 3-10 days. Often people confuse gout with rheumatism.

CAUSES

Uric acid is a natural compound produced by the body to reduce purines. Purine itself can be interpreted as a natural substance that has several important functions in the body, ranging from regulating cell growth to energy formation, when it is finished being used by the body, uric acid will be removed through urine.

The cause of gout itself is due to the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, it can occur due to purine levels in the blood too high. High purine levels are obtained from certain foods and drinks such as the following:

·         Alcohol
·         Lamb chops
·         Bacon
·         Red meat
·         Seafood (shrimp, sardines, lobster, etc.)

Apart from food and drinks, there are several other triggering factors including:

·         Genetic factors
·         Complications due to diabetes
·         Complications caused by kidney stones
·         And complications due to other diseases

TREATMENT

Gout cannot be cured totally, but if left alone it can interfere with daily activities, with that it is necessary to do treatment to deal with gout by applying healthy living. Gout can also be treated by giving anti-pain drugs to reduce the pain felt by gout sufferers when it recurs.

For prevention that can be done to avoid gout is by changing lifestyles to be healthier, can be done by consuming lots of foods with balanced nutrition and high fiber, and do not forget to consume enough water and diligently exercise at least 2 times a week

D.  TENDINITIS

Tendinitis is inflammation of the tendons, which are the tissues that connect muscles and joints. Tendinitis usually affects tendons in the shoulder, elbow, heel, or ankle, but it may also occur elsewhere in the body.

Tendons themselves help muscles move joints, so inflammation in tendons can cause pain and discomfort around joints.

Athletes also often develop tendinitis. In fact, the different types of tendinitis can be categorized based on the type of exercise they do, such as:

1. Jumper's knee.

2. Pitcher's shoulder.

3. Swimmer's shoulder.

4. Tennis elbow.

5. Golfer's elbow.

If tendinitis gets worse, such as a torn tendon, surgery may be needed to treat it. However, usually tendinitis can be treated by resting, taking pain medication, and doing physical therapy.

Causes of Tendinitis

The majority of causes of tendinitis are physical activity or repetitive movements, such as jumping in basketball, swinging your arms while playing badminton, hoeing, or gardening. In addition, strenuous physical activity or movements performed in improper positions can also cause tendinitis. Injuries caused by lifting heavy objects can also cause inflammation of these tendons.

Types of Tendinitis

There are several types of tendinitis that can be distinguished based on cause and location, namely:

1. Achilles Tendinitis

Achilles tendinitis is inflammation that occurs in the large tendon at the back of the ankle (Achilles tendon). Usually, this type of tendinitis arises due to repetitive activities such as running and jumping movements during basketball.

2. Lateral Epicondylitis

Tendinitis that occurs in the tendons in the outer elbow. Lateral epicondylitis arises due to activities that involve repetitive spinning movements in the wrist. This type of tendinitis is usually common in badminton and tennis athletes.

3. Knee Tendinitis

Knee tendinitis is an inflammation that occurs in the patellar tendon, which is a tendon located at the bottom of the knee or in the quadriceps tendon above the knee. This type of tendinitis usually occurs due to jumping or running movements, such as in basketball or long-distance running.

4. Medial Epicondylitis

Medial epicondylitis is inflammation of the tendons in the inner elbow. Generally, the cause of this type of tendinitis is activities that involve repetitive movements of the elbow, as often done by golf and baseball athletes.

5. De quervain tendinitis

Inflammation of the tendon, also known as de Quervain syndrome, occurs in the tendon of the wrist, precisely at the base of the thumb. This tendinitis can be triggered by repetitive grasping or pinching movements, such as in tennis and rock climbing athletes. Tendinitis can also occur in pregnant women, but until now the cause is unknown.

6. Rotator Cuff Tendinitis

Rotator cuff tendinitis is inflammation that occurs in the rotator cuff, a group of muscles and tendons that surround the shoulder joint and control shoulder rotation. Usually, this condition is triggered by repetitive raising of the arm, such as when swimming.

Tendinitis Treatment

Treatment of tendinitis primarily aims to relieve symptoms and reduce inflammation. Some tendinitis treatment options are as follows:

1. Drug Consumption

In the early stages, your doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation and pain. However, for tendinitis that has lasted for more than three months, the use of corticosteroids is not recommended because it has the potential to cause tendons to become weak and tear.

2. Physiotherapy

Patients who have tendinitis can receive physiotherapy to strengthen the inflamed tendon and help restore motion function impaired by tendinitis. This treatment can be given after the symptoms of tendinitis disappear. Physiotherapy will adjust actions and exercises to the health condition of each patient.

3. Other Medical Measures

If the patient's condition does not improve even after being given drugs and undergoing physiotherapy, the doctor can perform a number of medical actions, such as:

• Ultrasound therapy, to remove scar tissue marks on tendons by utilizing exposure to ultrasonic sound waves.
• Dry needling, to encourage the healing process in the tendon using a special needle.
• Surgery, performed as a last resort to overcome severe tendinitis conditions, such as tendon detachment from bone or torn tendons.

4. Self-Care

In addition to medical care, tendinitis patients can also handle independently, such as:

• Resting the inflamed tendon.
• Avoid doing activities or sports that put strong pressure on the inflamed tendon.
• Cold compress the tendon area that has tendinitis for 20 minutes and done several times a day.
• Bandage the inflamed tendon area with an elastic bandage until the swelling decreases.
• Using a pile of pillows to support inflamed tendons during sleep.
• Stretch before exercising.
• Set the correct posture during work.