A hip fracture is a broken bone at the top of the thigh bone (also known as the “hip” bone). Osteoporosis is a disease in which bones become weak and break easily, is the most common cause of hip fractures. These breaks can be either acute or chronic. An acute fracture occurs when an unexpected force on the bone, such as a fall that causes the person to break their hip.
A chronic fracture means that over time, there has been so much calcium loss in the bones that they can no longer withstand force and begin to crack. If you have been diagnosed with it, your doctor may recommend hip fracture treatment or preventive measures to reduce your risk of breaking your hip.
These may include eating a balanced diet with high calcium content to strengthen your bones, taking multi-vitamins and engaging in some physical activity on a daily basis, and not to. However, despite all precautions, many people still suffer from fractured hips. It is important not to shy away from these painful events but rather embrace them as learning opportunities and catalysts for change in lifestyle habits.
Here are 7 causes of hip fractures:
1. Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a hip fracture symptom and is a disease in which your bones become weak and break easily. Most often, osteoporosis occurs in your spine, ribs, hips, and wrist. However, it can also happen in your fingers and toes. When your bones are weak, they are more likely to break, especially from a fall. This happens because your bones may not be able to break the force of the fall. Osteoporosis can also cause pain in your joints.
An estimated 10 million individuals in the United States are diagnosed with osteoporosis each year. It is a silent disease that can manifest over a period of 10-20 years, and it is often ignored until the onset of a fracture. Most fractures associated with osteoporosis are caused by a fall, with the most common fracture being a hip fracture. Hip fractures affect approximately 800,000 people each year in the U.S. This is approximately 5% of the elderly population and 15% of individuals over the age of 50. If you are suffering from osteoporosis, it is highly recommended that you get the best hip replacement surgery in Gurgaon.
2. Loss of muscle strength and balance
In the elderly, it is common to experience a loss of muscle strength and balance. The hips usually experience this first, which means that when walking on uneven ground or stairs, your ability to keep your posture and remain upright will be challenged. As you advance in years, your sense of proprioception, your ability to differentiate between joints and the position of your body, will slowly decline. This means that you may not be able to walk as steadily as before, and you may experience frequent falls.
Over time, these falls can result in a hip fracture. For example, if you are walking down the stairs and you misjudge the length of your stride so that your foot lands too far ahead of your body, you may fall forward. If you do not have sufficient strength in your hips and legs to catch yourself, you may end up landing on your outstretched hands. If the fall is significant enough, it can result in a fracture. If there is a feature, then immediately you must opt for hip fracture surgery.
Therefore, it becomes very crucial for people to remain active and all times and prevent the loss of muscle strength with increasing age. This can be done by exercising regularly and eating a balanced diet.
Dealing from fatigue and weakness can also aid you in keeping your body active. The easiest way to do this is by maintaining a schedule, both for your day-to-day activities and your diet and including daily exercises and a healthy and carbohydrate-rich diet in your everyday routine. Yoga can also be added to the routine as it helps in the overall development of the body. It helps in increasing flexibility, posture and body balance, along with providing peace and relaxation to oneself. Getting yourself connected with a yoga instructor is highly recommended. This is because exercises and asanas done in the wrong posture can completely change the outcome and may even make the situation worse for you.
3. Fall from a height
When people are younger, falls are usually the result of clumsiness or carelessness. However, as people age, falls usually stem from an inability to maintain balance. As such, falls from a height, such as from a standing position, pose a risk. The force of a fall from a standing position is primarily distributed through the bones in the hip and the spine. As such, there is a higher risk of fractures in these areas than there is with falls to the knees or ground. No medicine is recommended in this case. It is just that you will have to be more careful and attentive at all times.
Also, having a healthy body with strong muscles and bones can reduce the impact of the fall. This can be achieved by maintaining a healthy body by either going to the gym or exercising on a daily basis, along with normal stretching, yoga, and jogging.
4. Excessive weight and weakness in the thigh muscles
Losing weight and engaging in strength-training exercises can reduce the chances of experiencing a hip fracture. The bones are not prepared for bearing heavy weight, and this might cause a severe injury. However, sudden, rapid weight loss can weaken the thigh muscles, which eventually can result in a fall and a hip fracture. To prevent this, it is highly recommended to eat calcium and iron-rich food, such as dairy products and fruits such as apples, in your diet as they will greatly help in strengthening your overall bones and muscles.
5. Faulty posture due to limited mobility and loss of core strength
Poor posture, especially when standing for long periods of time, can cause the hips to be in an awkward position. This can increase the risk of a fall, resulting in a break. Another contributing factor to poor posture is a lack of core strength. When you are younger, your body is in its prime, and every muscle is strong.
However, as you age, your muscles begin to weaken, which means that you have to consciously work to maintain good posture. Improving and maintaining good posture can reduce the chances of experiencing a hip fracture. The easiest way to maintain a good posture, which is also not known by many, is imagining that you are shooting light beams from your nipples. This simple technique can help you straighten your body, especially your backbone, by up to 35%.
6. Previous hip fracture(s)
A previous hip fracture often causes the bones to become weaker. Even if the fracture is healed, there may be long-lasting effects that make the bones less able to withstand new stress. Having had a previous fracture may increase the risk of a new fracture. According to a recent study, around 20% of the patients that have come for their treatment have already had a previous hip fracture(s). Therefore, it is highly recommended to get top-class hip fracture treatment and the best hip replacement surgery in Gurgaon.
7. Other conditions weaken your bones, like Vitamin D deficiency or other forms of malnutrition, chronic diseases, or disorders.
People with other health conditions, such as Vitamin D deficiency or other forms of malnutrition, chronic diseases, and disorders, often have weak bones, which can increase the risk of a hip fracture. Therefore, it is recommended to include vitamin-rich foods in your diet to help prevent hip fractures. A daily of 15 minutes under the sunlight can help sustain your Vitamin-D levels naturally, as sunlight is the largest and the easiest source of Vitamin-D our body can get. Intake of 1 multi-vitamin tablet per day can also aid you in preventing such a condition.
Along with this, having a balanced diet which includes adequate proportions of fats, carbohydrates, fibres, vitamins, and minerals can help one encounter other forms of deficiency such as malnutrition, fatigue, muscle pain, previous body disorders, a wrong body posture, etc.
Conclusion
A hip fracture can be extremely painful for those suffering from it. Becoming more aware and taking appropriate precautions to avoid the same should be your top priority. Try going in for frequent sessions of physiotherapy and massages to release the excess tension that might gather around your hip and thigh muscles. The causes, steps, and remedies mentioned in this article are to make you more aware of the same and relieve you of the hip fracture symptoms.
These will surely help you and your loved ones to take adequate precautions for the same, for it is aptly said that “Precaution is better than cure.” Even if you are suffering from a hip fracture and are not sure about the reason, we hope that this article will come in handy for you and make you more aware of the concerned issue.
