A red light was lit to maintain muscle strength as the amount of activity of the elderly decreased due to the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19). As most of the elderly suffer from decreased muscle strength and osteoporosis, care should be taken against minor falls.
Osteoporotic fracture sites can be largely divided into wrist, spine, and hip joints. Of these, the incidence rate of hip fractures is about 20%, but the complications and mortality rates are far higher than those of other fractures, so special attention is needed. The most typical hip fracture is when you sit and stand up, or when you try to walk, you fall at an angle to the side.
Kyung Hee University Hospital Orthopedic Surgery Professor Yoo Hyung (photo) said, “I think the trauma will not be severe as the fall is so small, but most of them cannot move easily in a fall position.” “The hip joint is a joint that connects the spine and lower extremities When a fracture occurs, it is difficult to change postures such as sitting or turning, and even a small movement causes severe pain.”
Motion restriction that occurs after a fracture leads to various complications such as bedsores, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and cardiovascular disease. As about 30% of patients die within 2 years after fracture, it is necessary to clearly recognize and deal with it as a very dangerous disease. About 70% of hip fracture patients are women, because the bones are rapidly weakened by hormonal changes after menopause.
After a hip fracture, it is important to return to the previous condition as soon as possible. It is recommended to visit a hospital and strongly fix the hip joint or perform surgery such as an artificial joint. Even if the patient is old or has disease, the risk of delayed surgery is much greater than that of general anesthesia.
Prof. Yu said, “As it is accepted as the norm that the shorter the waiting time for surgery, the lower the complications and mortality rate, so even in the United States, which is the most severe and sensitive to medical accidents, surgery within 24 to 48 hours after the occurrence of hip fracture is recommended.” In order to minimize the various complications that can occur after surgery, you should do walking exercises, including weight-bearing, as early as possible, within the limit you can tolerate without pain.”
To prevent fractures, proper prevention and vitamin D intake are necessary. Vitamin D has little direct relationship with osteoporosis, but it plays an important role in maintaining muscle strength in the body, so you should take it all. Supplementation through food intake or sunlight is very small, so it is better to supplement with drugs.
You can also help reduce the risk of falls by eliminating sills that could cause you to trip over and installing non-slip tiles and pads on the floor of your bathroom or bathtub.
Prof. Yu said, “No matter how much exercise in postmenopausal women or elderly men, the bones do not become strong enough to prevent fractures. Instead of exercising excessively for bone health, it is through proper exercise to prevent muscle loss. We need to reduce the risk of falls and try to prevent fractures.”
Reporter Jeong Jinsoo [email protected]
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