Osteoporosis After Stroke

One of the common complications after stroke is secondary osteoporosis that develops due to stroke. The most important event that draws attention to bone health in stroke patients is fractures, the most serious of which in terms of morbidity and mortality are hip fractures. The risk of hip fracture in stroke patients is 2-4 times higher than the normal population due to the decrease in bone mineral density on the plegic side and the increased risk of falling. There is a loss of bone mineral density after stroke. This loss is faster and larger in the early stages of stroke and is greater on the plegic side. The factors affecting this loss of bone mineral density after stroke have not been well defined. The relationship between stroke-related bone mineral density loss and motor function, functional mobility, balance, and muscle mass is not clear. It is important to reveal the changes in bone structure after stroke and the factors affecting this change. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features affecting bone mineral density in plegic and non-plegic extremities in hemiplegic patients with stroke in the subacute and chronic phases.