The most common drugs used for pain and inflammation are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen.  It is estimated that some 30 billion doses of these drugs are consumed each year in the U.S.  A growing body of research is suggesting that these drugs may actually increase the bone loss associated with osteoporosis.  It […]

Exercise has an important role both in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.  Understanding the mechanisms by which exercise helps bone density has important implications as to the most beneficial exercise pattern.  The relationship between exercise and bone health relates to mechanisms: Increased loading causes bone to undergo more remodeling increasing bone volume and density.  […]

When bad food means bad bones One of the common responses I hear from a patient when I explore dietary patterns that may be contributing to their health challenge is “but I don’t eat fast food”.  Generally, fast food is highly processed, loaded with artificial ingredients, fat and sugar all associated with a broad array […]

When we think of the relationship between diet and osteoporosis, the first thought tends to be the impact of calcium and vitamin D.  While those are important, the relationship between diet and the disease is more complex.  Recent research has found that, in adolescents, food quality is highly impactful on bone health. The risk of […]

My analogy here will likely only make sense to those 55 and older, the very population that faces an osteoporosis diagnosis.  Many will be left with a choice of considering drug therapy or non-drug therapy.  Many of the drugs available to treat bone density loss can be effective, but they carry some risk of adverse […]

We are very excited to now have a full spine set up to treat osteoporosis.  The first question may be what is PEMF Therapy?  PEMF is the acronym for pulsed electromagnetic frequency.  Bone is stimulated to remodel and repair by the mechanical stimulation from weight bearing activity.  This stimulation is generated by electromagnetic impulses generated […]

Many persons with osteoporosis or osteopenia are apprehensive about drug therapy for it given either the known adverse effects or, for some, a previously experienced adverse effect.  Not treating the disease, however, is not a wise option given the tendency for potentially debilitating fracture to occur.  So, the question is, what other effective treatment options […]

We are very excited to have added a state-of-the-art piece of equipment to be the core of our non-drug therapy program for osteoporosis.  Bone is constantly remodeling, removing damaged bone and replacing it with new, healthy bone.  With age, and particularly as estrogen declines, osteoclasts which remove bone become more active while osteoblasts which fill […]

Designing an Effective Non-Drug Treatment Program Summary As we have discussed in this series, osteoporosis and osteopenia are common with age.  Simply supplying the building components of bone, minerals and vitamins D & K2 are the standard concept of non-drug treatment, yet the research demonstrating benefit once disease is present is rarely helpful.  The maintenance […]

Designing an Effective Non-Drug Treatment Program Part 3 – The Piece We Omitted! In writing this summary putting all of the pieces of osteoporosis treatment together, I realized that a piece of the process was left out in the last blog.  That piece is insuring/restoring bone matrix.  Bone matrix is the fibrous mesh that supports […]