Osteoporosis Patient Education

• Regular weight-bearing exercises and muscle strengthening exercises can improve agility, strength, posture and balance, which may help to prevent falls
  • Jogging, brisk walking, tai chi, weight training
  • Type of exercise will depend on age of patient and physical ability
  • At least 30 minutes of regular exercise 3-4 x/week is recommended

• May modestly increase bone density (for as long as exercise is being done)

• Both associated with increased risk of osteoporotic fractures and should be avoided
• Alcohol intake may be limited to <2 units/day

• Caffeinated drinks should be limited to <1-2 servings/day (240-360 mL/serving)

Fall Prevention

• Counsel the patient, especially the elderly, on ways to reduce risk of falls
  • Measures to prevent falls (eg installing grab bars/handrails, nonslip flooring, adequate lighting, removing loose wires, keeping things within reach)
  • Hip protectors may help reduce the impact on the hip during the fall
• Evaluate for certain medications (eg sedatives, hypnotics, narcotic analgesics, antihypertensives), neurologic conditions, alcohol, poor vision and hearing, frailty and deconditioning as these may lead to falls
• Recommend exercise and physical therapy referral

Support Devices

• Eg braces, lumbar corset, posture-training support devices
• Recommended for patients with acute vertebral fractures or multiple vertebral fractures associated with chronic pain
• Provides significant pain relief by decreasing the load on fracture sites and realigning the spinal column