NH ENG _Mac2022

HEALTH & Wellness
Dato' Dr. Badrul Shah Badaruddin
Consultant Orthopaedic & Sports Surgeon
ALTY Orthopaedic Hospital
Working from home has been another
contributing factor to declining
bone health, in addition to low
periods of physical activity. The ALTY
Orthopaedic Hospital reported an
increase in young adults complaining
about lower back pain and shoulder
spasms linked to working from home.
Long hours in front of a screen, poor
posture, hunched back, and a lack of
access to ergonomic seating can all
have a direct effect on your spine and
back. The pandemic and a change
in regular working habits is proof of
the impact that poor posture and
inactivity can have on our overall
health and well-being.
Another factor that often influences
bone metabolism is Vitamin D. The lack
of exposure to the sun for months on
end during the pandemic has raised the
risk of vitamin D deficiency, especially
within individuals who do not take
daily supplements. The deficiency of
this crucial vitamin can lead to several
conditions, including osteoporosis.
Weight gain can be another reason
for poor bone health. The pandemic
left people with no time to exercise
and little self-control, leading them
to an unbalanced diet that led to
weight gain. This sudden increase
put pressure on the joints, increasing
the risk of painful joints in addition to
other health conditions.
The Care Gap and Associated
Issues
The greatest challenge posed by the
pandemic was that it interrupted the
delivery of appropriate medical care
to patients. With healthcare resources
diverted to manage the spread of
infections and treat those who tested
positive, several other chronic illnesses
were put to the curb. Unfortunately, this
meant that patients with bone ailments
such as arthritis, osteoporosis etc.,
were not given the immediate care
they deserved. Prolonged procedures,
missed doctor appointments, and
closure of physical therapy centres are
some factors that could contribute to
long-term consequences for patients,
such as an increase in symptoms or
disease progression.
The pandemic also saw a lack of
patient follow-ups as people feared
contracting infections in hospital
settings. This meant that many
patients who needed medications
and more tests did not make the
necessary visits to hospitals. This
was especially damaging for fracture
patients, who need frequent checkups
and physical therapy.
Get Back On Track With Your
Bone Health
With restrictions slowly easing and
hope for normal routines to return, it is
time to take that healthcare priority list
again and give special preference to
your bone and muscle health.
Talk to your doctor
If you have been suffering from
aches and pains or have an already
diagnosed bone ailment such as
osteoporosis, setting up a consultation
with your doctor should top that
list. During your meeting with the
specialist, try to understand the
progress of your condition, schedule
appointments for assessment and tests
(if needed) and set a time for a second
follow-up meeting. You can also try to
speak with your doctor to see if you
need additional physical therapies or
make any lifestyle adjustments to reach
your health goals.
Lifestyle modifications
Next on the list should be making
lifestyle changes if you haven’t started
doing so already. Set up a proper
workstation at home if you don’t plan
to step into the office soon. Make sure
that you invest in an appropriate table
and chair setting with a laptop stand
that allows you to maintain a good
working posture. Include 4-5 days
of light intensity workouts such as
jogging, yoga, swimming and cycling
to your daily routine. These exercises
will strengthen your joints, keep you
flexible, and help you lose weight in
the process.
Diet and nutrition
Adjusting your diet can also play
a significant role in ensuring good
musculoskeletal health. Talk to your
physician about including supplements
like Vitamin D, calcium, and zinc in
your diet. You can also up your intake
of whole foods like milk, eggs, salmon,
green leafy vegetables, and lean
cuts of meat to give your body the
nourishment it deserves.
Learn about bone health
Finally, take the time to educate
yourself more about the importance
of maintaining good bone health. To
educate Malaysians about common
bone ailments such as arthritis,
osteoporosis, and spondylitis, ALTY
Orthopaedic Hospital put together an
ALTY-mate bone care month to share
multiple resources, videos with experts
and bite-sized content on social media
to make information more accessible.
Natural Health * March 2022 VOL 126
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