Osteoporosis is a metabolic disease of the bones. The increased destruction of bone mass causes the bones to lose their stability. This can result in painful bone fractures.
Women suffer osteoporosis more commonly than men. More than a third of women aged over 60 are affected by the condition. It is believed that the condition affects up to seven million people in Germany alone. More than 130,000 people in Germany suffer a fracture of the femoral neck and spinal fractures. After several years of the condition, these fractures can lead to a third of patients becoming dependent on assistance with everyday living.
If bone fractures have already occurred, it is very difficult to treat them. It is therefore important to prevent or spot the onset of osteoporosis early on.
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To detect osteoporosis early, our practice uses a radiation-free ultrasound scan of the heel bone with the LUNAR ACHILLES EXPRESS device. This, coupled with other risk factors such as
- Estrogen deficit
- Lack of exercise
- Low-calcium diet
- Excessive consumption of coffee, cola and cigarettes
- A slender frame
- Familial osteoporosis, and others,
allow the risk of a bone fracture to be determined for each age group of both men and women, and also allows suspected osteoporosis to be confirmed.
The method is harmless, involves no radiation and can be carried out with reliable results. The scan measures the density of the heel bone, and the results correlate very well with other X-ray based scans. If the values are abnormal, a further check using the DEXA method (low-dose radiation) should be performed in order to confirm or refute suspected osteoporosis.