Osteoporosis is a bone disease which consists of reducing bone mass and disturbing the proper bone tissue architecture. Osteoporosis is the main cause of fractures in postmenopausal women and elderly people. Fractures in the course of osteoporosis are characterized by low-energy injuries, i.e. they may occur in situations which in a healthy person do not cause bone fractures, e.g. as a result of a slight fall, leaning on the hand, or even during changing the body position. Osteoporosis fractures occur most frequently within the neck of the femur, spine and the distal epiphysis of the forearm bone, but may also affect any other part of the body skeleton.

Osteoporosis is called a “silent disease” because its early stages run without any specific symptoms until bone cracks or fractures occur. Gradually increasing osteoporosis pains are often confused with degenerative changes of the spine or rheumatoid disease. Many people believe that osteoporosis is a natural process resulting from the ageing of the body. It is worth noting that osteoporosis can be prevented to a large extent, and in case of its detection, the progress can be inhibited and the risk of fractures reduced.