Topical issues of rehabilitation of patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures

Abstract

The literature review analyzed 20 Russian and 69 foreign publications on the rehabilitation of elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral fractures. The article deals in detail with the prevalence, medical and social significance of pathological osteoporotic fractures, including vertebral deformities. The data confirming the importance of osteoporosis for physical and rehabilitation medicine specialists are presented. Changes in the quality of life, functional and gate disorders associated with osteoporotic vertebral fractures are described. Based on the available literature data, the principles of rehabilitation of patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures are formulated, including the effectiveness of various methods of physical therapy, mechanotherapy and apparatus physiotherapy. From the standpoint of evidence-based medicine, the role of orthotics in the complex rehabilitation of such patients is described. Based on the analysis of literature data, it was concluded that the problem of osteoporosis is relevant for physicians working in the field of rehabilitation medicine; osteoporotic vertebral fractures are characterized by a high prevalence over the age of 50 years and are associated with a decrease in the quality of life, motor and functional limitations, and an increased risk of death, and well-planned medical rehabilitation programs including physical exercises, physiotherapy and orthotics can significantly improve patient functionality.