Patients included in the SMTG were subjected to the usual therapy, established as a result of medical specialist visits, and 6 weekly sessions of osteopathic treatment placebo. It paid particular attention to the restrictions of mobility at all levels: articulation, myofascial, visceral and head in accordance with the principle that the restriction of mobility is a predisposing factor for the onset of pain, functional impotence and instability ( 25). To achieve this objective techniques were performed on any body part that the osteopath found to be correlated with the disorder and the patient’s functional limitation. The osteopathic treatment, lasting 30 min, was structured in its case-type (black box), while meeting the following general criteria: 1) respect for the patient and his pain, 2) execution of postural objective investigation of the subject, which aimed at discovering the cause of pain and functional limitations, and 3) use of different types of techniques, chosen on the basis of the results of the examination posture, while respecting the characteristics of each individual. Patients assigned to the osteopathic treatment were subjected to the usual therapy, established as a result of medical specialist visits, and 6 weekly sessions of osteopathic treatment. This study aimed at assessing the usefulness of osteopathic treatment in addition to the usual treatment of approaching a highly debilitating disease such as osteoporosis, which results in significant consequences “personal” and “social” in an attempt to improve the quality of life of patients.

In order to improve joint mobility and improve muscle responses in the course of osteoporosis, the therapeutic approach uses functional osteopathic techniques ( 23) and soft tissue techniques ( 24) designed to increase the ability to accept change of length and tension more easily and thereby improve the ability of structures to adapt to movements with plausible decrease in pain and functional limitations ( 25) and increased autonomy (self-sufficiency and independence) of the subjects. The osteopathic approach uses a wide range of techniques: the presence of bone demineralization and degree must be taken into consideration when performing the treatment as a contraindication to the application of certain maneuvers ( 22). Using methods of treatment aimed at improving proprioception and posture ( 18) you can change conditions predisposing to complications of the disease such as decreased balance and increased risk of falls due to hyperkiphosis and reduced muscle strength ( 19– 21).

Osteopathic treatment acts on neuro-musculo-skeletal system, on the basis of the relationship between structure and function, in order to stimulate the body’s inherent self-regulatory process (to achieve this objective techniques will be performed on any body part considers that the osteopath to be correlated with the pain and functional limitation of the patient). In addition the cost of social work and hospital admissions for the loss of autonomy implies that inability to perform certain activities without the help of other people (nurses, carers) or to collaborate with family workers (care for grandchildren, tidy up the house, grocery shopping).įunctional limitations and pain affecting people with osteoporosis and who disrupt the quality of life, leading to these social costs of disease are attributable to the musculoskeletal system and therefore can be treated through osteopathic therapy.

The cost to the National Health Service (NHS) for 79 known drugs ( 12) used for osteoporosis is around 500 to 600 pounds per year per patient ( 13– 17), if one calculates that the incidence of osteoporosis in the elderly in Italy, is around 18% to 25% in men and in women ( 24) and that the benefits of the new Note 79 extend to 1.2 million patients ( 14– 17), it is easy to deduce that the incidence of osteoporosis on health spending is considerable. Several studies have demonstrated the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and deterioration of some aspects of quality of life ( 5– 11). In the fourth decade of life there is already a progressive loss of bone mass and a processes of transformation that can cause bone deformities of the same bone architecture and an increased susceptibility to fractures ( 1– 4). The definition of the disease osteoporosis is based mainly on pathologic criteria that give special characteristics of skeletal fragility that make the bone susceptible to fracture even from modest trauma.

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