The following question was asked during a recent Q&A webinar. The question comes from a Physical Therapist currently taking the Building Better Bones Physical Therapy continuing education course. The student asks what are the different treatment options for vertebral fractures.
Question: Treatment Options for Vertebral Fractures
The student asks:
I am working with elderly patients and some are severely kyphotic and have vertebral fractures. What are my treatment options?
My Response
There is a complete section in the Building Better Bones continuing education course for Physical Therapists that is dedicated to vertebral fracture management. In the audio below I discuss several of the options presented in the course.
Your first question as a therapist should be is this an acute or a chronic fracture? If it is an acute fracture, you should work with your team (i.e., the Physician, the Occupational Therapist, and other members of the medical team) on pain management strategies.
There are different treatment options for each. In the audio discussion I cover the different options for acute fractures including:
- Pharmaceutical options for pain management such as Vitamin D and calcitonin
- Activities of daily living. Be very aware of the client’s needs. You may want to do simple things like chair the height of her chair which aids transfers. I give a real life example of a client of mine.
- Orthotic options and which clients will be most successful with them.
- Taping, massage and relaxation training.
- Making sure that Vitamin D levels are appropriate.
- Strength training and appropriate exercise options.
- Education of family members.
This audio is 3 minutes and 52 seconds in length. To play the audio, click the play button to the right, below (you may have to click twice to start the play).
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