Does bed rest cause bone loss?
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Does bed rest cause bone loss?
The rate of bone mineral loss during bed rest and space flight is about 1-2 percent per month, and recovery requires a period three or four times longer. To prevent bone loss caused by bed rest and space flight, a prophylactic countermeasure program based on scientific evidence should be developed.
What are the complications of prolonged bed rest?
Prolonged bed rest and immobilization inevitably lead to complications. Such complications are much easier to prevent than to treat. Musculoskeletal complications include loss of muscle strength and endurance, contractures and soft tissue changes, disuse osteoporosis, and degenerative joint disease.
How does immobility affect bone density?
However, when the body is immobile, the mechanical loading of the skeleton is reduced, resulting in a decline of osteoblast that stops building the bone matrix, thus reducing bone synthesis, whilst the osteoclasts continue to break down resulting in the loss of bone density leaving the patients bones at risk of …
What happens to bones when bedridden?
Within just a few days of immobility, bone demineralisation leads to loss of calcium from bone and, therefore, a rise in plasma calcium levels; after five weeks of bedrest there is a measurable increase of up to 50ml in the amount of calcium excreted in the urine (Zerwekh et al, 2007).
Why do bedridden patients lose bone mass?
When someone is immobile, the cells that make bone (osteoblasts) are not able to work as well. In addition, there is more activity of the cells that breakdown bone (osteoclasts). People on bed rest have shown to experience drastic bone loss.
What are two complications of immobility?
The hazards or complications of immobility, such as skin breakdown, pressure ulcers, contractures, muscular weakness, muscular atrophy, disuse osteoporosis, renal calculi, urinary stasis, urinary retention, urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, atelectasis, pneumonia, decreased respiratory vital capacity.
How do you prevent bed rest complications?
Avoid prolonged bed rest by:
- Upgrade the mattress (if required) to prevent additional skin breakdown.
- Arrange a seating assessment as soon as possible. Once the seating system has been:
- Avoid or limit the frequency and duration of commode / toilet / shower chair usage and optimise pressure management.