May is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month!
40 Patient Stories to Commemorate 40 Years
We are excited to share that 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF)! Our mission has never been more critical given the fact that osteoporotic fractures are responsible for more hospitalizations than heart attacks, strokes, and breast cancer combined. Peopleās experience with osteoporosis varies greatly, but the good news is that it is manageable disease.
Starting in May, and throughout the year, we will be highlighting the stories of 40 inspiring osteoporosis patients via personal videos to commemorate our 40th anniversary and raise awareness. Follow along to learn about the many ways that this condition affects people from all walks of life. Click here to learn more.
Join us in raising awareness about osteoporosis and bone health! There are many ways to get involved.
There is so much you can do to spread awareness and show your support by using social media. Itās more important than ever that we come together to support each other, rally our communities and raise awareness about bone health during Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month in May! This user-friendly toolkit contains everything you need to share information on social media with your peers, colleagues, friends, family, and in your community. It is complete with posts and images, making it easier for everyone to spread the news far and wide about the importance of good bone health.
Download the toolkit today:
PDF Version
Word Version
Give during the month of May to help improve patient care and support for those who have already broken bones due to osteoporosis and to protect future generations from this debilitating disease.
Donate today!
Visit the BHOF fundraising page to learn more and register. You can then personalize your fundraiser with stories, photos and videos. It only takes a few minutes. Then invite your friends, family and network to support your fundraiser. You can even donate to yourself to get the ball rolling.
Ask the Expert: Nutrition for Osteoporosis & Bone Health
Visit the BHOF online support community, hosted by Inspire, to post your questions about nutrition for osteoporosis and bone health. Your questions will be answered from Monday, May 13th through Friday, May 17th, 2024 by Elizabeth Quinn, MS, CNS, LDN and Burta Guray Samli, AADP, INHC.
We encourage you to start posting your questions now. Please be sure to follow the post and look for responses!
How to participate:
- Your questions: we invite you to post your questions in the replies section of the discussion posted on the BHOF Online Community Page.
- If you prefer to ask your question anonymously, please send TeamInspire a private message with the subject line āAsk the Expert ā Osteoporosisā and they will post it to this discussion on your behalf.
- Please note: we will NOT be answering questions posted outside this Ask the Expert post.
- As we do not know your full medical and personal histories, we will provide general information and cannot provide specific medical information.
- Answers: We will be posting answers as a threaded reply to your questions in the replies section of this discussion beginning Monday, May 13th. We may also respond to a group of similar questions with one response.
- End of Event / Constraints: The event ends on Friday, May 17th at 11:00 pm EST. Please understand if we are unable to get to your question due to time or topic constraints.
Please visit the profiles on each of our experts and read their bios to learn more!
Elizabeth Quinn, MS, CNS, LDN: https://www.inspire.com/m/liz-eats
Burta Guray Samli, AADP, INHC: https://www.inspire.com/m/Ladybug-88
Virtual Events
Freedom from Fracturesā¢ (Webinar)
Date/Time: Wednesday, May 1, 2024, from 1-2pm ET
Speaker: Peer Educator ā Kathlene Camp
Host: ReachUp
Strong bones are the foundation of good overall health, yet bone health issues often go undetected until an unexpected fall leads to a fracture. As we age, fractures can have a dramatic impact on quality of life, robbing older adults of their independence and leading to other serious health outcomes. The good news is no matter what stage of life youāre in, you have the power make a difference. Join us for this virtual program to learn more about how to achieve optimum bone health or how to help a loved one avoid bone fractures. You will understand your personal fracture risk and next steps to take for better bone health. Learn how to take the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation Fracture Risk Calculatorā¢ (developed by American Bone Health) and to initiate fall prevention strategies. Watch the recording here.
Free Week of Strength Training & Yoga for Osteoporosis (Digital Program)
Date/Time: Available anytime! (self-paced video playlist)
Strength training is a safe and evidence-based way to improve bone density, while yoga reduces fracture risk by improving balance and posture. This week-long virtual program offers a beginner-friendly introduction to foundational strength training movements and concepts to support bone density. You can participate from the comfort of your own home, with minimal or no equipment. Access is free, with no time constraints! Learn more and sign up here: https://www.kaariprehab.com/p/strength-training-yoga-for-osteoporosis-1
Safe Strength Training for Osteoporosis – for Beginners (Zoom)
Date/Time: Thursday, May 2, from 3-4pm ET
Join this free one hour osteoporosis strength training beginner level class developed for those who are looking to learn how to strength train and stretch safely, improve posture, balance, functional fitness, and decrease stress. It is crucial to learn how to exercise properly because the wrong exercises or improper form can lead to fractures and injury. This class will show you the exercises that should be performed, the exercises that should be modified and the exercises that should be avoided. Obtain clearance from your healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise routine. You will need hand weights, a mat, and a resistance band and will receive a Zoom invite the day prior to the class. Email Carol Michaels at caroljmichaels@gmail.com with any questions and to receive a Zoom link.
Safe Strength Training for Osteoporosis – for Beginners (Zoom)
Date/Time: Monday, May 6, from 6-7pm ET
Join this free one hour osteoporosis strength training beginner level class developed for those who are looking to learn how to strength train and stretch safely, improve posture, balance, functional fitness, and decrease stress. It is crucial to learn how to exercise properly because the wrong exercises or improper form can lead to fractures and injury. This class will show you the exercises that should be performed, the exercises that should be modified and the exercises that should be avoided. Obtain clearance from your healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise routine. You will need hand weights, a mat, and a resistance band and will receive a Zoom invite the day prior to the class. Email Carol Michaels at caroljmichaels@gmail.com with any questions and to receive a Zoom link.
What, When & Why to Exercise for Women 40+ (Virtual)
Dates/Times: May 6-11, 2024
This online event pulls exercise in midlife women’s health together to tackle the What, When & Why of exercise and the role of declining or replaced hormones. This is a FREE online event. There is an option to own the recordings with a significant discount for early birds. If you have questions, please contact Debra Atkinson at debra@voiceforfitness.com. Register here: https://www.flippingfifty.com/womensexercise
Mother’s Day Intergenerational Bone-Safe Movement Celebration (Virtual)
Date/Time: Sunday, May 12, 10:00-10:40am PT
Join this complimentary Annual Mother’s Day class to celebrate our well-lived bodies in a therapeutic and fun way. Movement will occur standing and/or in a chair. With May being Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, the class will review some essential guidelines for safety and provide exercises to strengthen you and challenge your balance. All abilities are welcome. The class will be taught by Teresa Maldonado Marchok, licensed physical therapist and founder of the BoneSmartPilatesĀ® Method and DVD series. Sign up here: https://bonesmartpilates.as.me/Giving If you have questions, please contact Teresa Maldonado Marchok, MPT, at teresa@pilateswithteresa.com.
Osteoporosis: A Perspective for 2024
Date/Time: Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 12pm-1pm ET
Speaker: Marcella Donovan Walker, MD, MS
Host: FDA Office of Womenās Health (OWH)
In observance of National Women’s Health Week (NWHW) 2024 and National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention month, the FDA Office of Womenās Health (OWH), will host a free virtual public webinar titled: Osteoporosis: A perspective for 2024 presented by Marcella Donovan Walker, MD, MS. Strong bones are essential to health and quality of life. Osteoporosis and fragility fractures are common and can be debilitating but there are steps that can be taken to help reduce the risk. Because osteoporosis is asymptomatic until the first clinical fracture, many women do not realize they are at risk. This lecture will summarize the current approach to assessing bone health, as well as preventing and treating osteoporosis with a focus on postmenopausal women. Click here to learn more and register.
Beyond the Breakā¢ (Webinar)
Date/Time: Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 12pm-1pm ET
Host: Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, FL
Speaker: Peer Educator ā Tamika Powe, MPH, MCHESĀ®, CDPĀ®
Having a broken bone is a sentinel event and it is critical to learn that it is an indicator that bones may be weak, and there is an increased risk of future broken bones.āÆBeyond the Breakā¢ explains how to manage your risk to prevent more broken bones. Click here to register.
Yoga for Your Feet (Zoom Workshop)
Date/Time: Saturday, May 18, from 9-11:30am PT
This Zoom workshop augments your ongoing practice of yoga poses to support you in reducing your fracture risk. With Yoga for Your Feet we take our feet as they are and explore the tenets of yoga to tune up our proprioception, finesse our alignment, and optimize how we transmit forces and bear weight so that we can move more consciously throughout the day to balance and avoid falls. Creating a more aligned relationship to our body from our feet up provides a refuge for the mind as we feel at ease with a steady, reliable, and confident gait. Workshop includes: a closer look at the anatomy of your feet, fun foot exercises & yoga asana practice, and tips to carry forward on and off the mat. Register here: https://pages.3greencircles.com/products/fit-feet?promo=SPECIAL (receive $20 off until May 17th) If you have questions, please contact Mary Beth Ray at mb@3greencircles.com.
Yoga with Resistance Bands-A Fun Introduction for Strength and Bones (Zoom)
Date/Time: Thursday, May 30, at 1pm ET
If you already love and practice yoga for all of its mind/breath/body benefits, why not add resistance bands to the (active) poses meant for strength anyway? This osteoporosis informed holistic yoga session will include: 1) A brief introduction to the benefits of resistance bands as yoga props, 2) A yoga class to experience the benefits of loop resistance bands for upper and lower body strength. 3) Challenges to your muscles and bones in different ways than external weights such as dumbells. Participants will need loop resistance bands and have the ability to stand and come to the floor. Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/3UjhaK5
In-person Events
Bone Health Day 2024 (In-person Program)
Date/Time: Saturday, May 4, 9am-12pm ET (registration begins at 8am ET)
Host: Lime Spring Specialties
Location: 2221 Noll Drive, Suite E100, Lancaster, PA 17603
Come join us as we dive into the morning filled with education and excitement about bone health and the effects of osteoporosis. Experienced medical speakers will be present to talk about the effects of osteoporosis, bone health nutrition, and how we can improve our posture, as well as medical management. Food and beverages will also be provided. We hope to see you there! Click here to register.
Osteoporosis and Bone Health Awareness Open House (In-person Program)
Date/Time: Saturday, May 4, 12pm-2pm ET
Host: The Aerobics and Fitness Studio
Location: 200 Russell Street, Suite 300, Hadley, MA 01002
Join a FREE Q&A Session focusing on bone health and the effects of osteoporosis. Kim Davidson, BHOF Ambassador, will be present to discuss the effects of osteoporosis, bone health nutrition, exercise, and falls prevention. You will have the opportunity to complete our Bone Health Risk Questionnaire and participate in Falls Risk assessments and a Grip Strength assessment. Registration is not required and this is a FREE event. If you have questions, please contact Kim Davidson at aerofit@comcast.net.
Exercise for Osteoporosis (In-person Program – weekly in May)
Dates/Time: Wednesdays, May 8, 15, 22, 29 from 1:30pm-3:00pm
Presenter: Kim Davidson
Host: The Aerobics and Fitness Studio
Location: 200 Russell Street, Suite 300, Hadley, MA 01002
This 4-week interactive program focuses on the EXERCISE component of living with osteoporosis or osteopenia. Activities and exercises that are safe and effective to include in cardiovascular and progressive resistance programs geared toward preserving bone density, increasing muscular strength, and decreasing the risk of falls will be discussed and practiced. This program is 25% off during Osteoporosis Awareness Month. Register here: https://www.theaerobicsandfitnessstudio.com/schedule If you have questions, please contact Kim Davidson at aerofit@comcast.net.
Posture Powerā¢ (In-person Program)
Date/Time: Monday, May 13, 11:30am ET
Speaker: Peer Educator ā Michele Schmidt
Host: Morrison Family YMCA, Community Room, 9405 Bryant Farms Road, Charlotte, NC 28277
Posture Powerā¢ is a program covering the importance of posture and body mechanics to prevent fractures, with quick techniques for safe movement. Postural changes affect our bones and body as we age. Knowing proper alignment and the correct type of exercises can improve posture and help reduce the risk of fractures. In addition, youāll learn the right ways to do your everyday activities. So, stand tall and get the most out of life!
Healthy Bones for Lifeā¢ (In-person Program)
Date/Time: Wednesday, May 15, 11am ET
Speaker: Peer Educator ā Michele Schmidt
Host: Saraās YMCA, Community Room, 15940 Brixham Hill Ave, Charlotte, NC 28277
Healthy Bones for Lifeā¢ is a program where Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation Peer Educators share the basics of bone health and why it is important. You will learn bone development over the ages, understand what osteoporosis is, bone loss and fractures. Itās the perfect introduction to preventing bone loss, fracture prevention, bone-safe exercise and bone-healthy nutrition. So, take steps to stay strong and independent for life!
On-Demand Webinars
De-Stressing in Nature for Bone Health: https://vimeo.com/715685685
Walking/Running for Your Bone Health: https://vimeo.com/707893959
Mindful Movement for All Ages: https://vimeo.com/710891343
Bone Healthy Advice: Exercise, Nutrition, Mindfulness: https://vimeo.com/712991063
New podcast episode!
Sports Dietitian Reveals Her Playbook for Better Bone Health
Angie Asche, MS, RD, CSSD, joins us to discuss how physical activity and nutritional intake directly affect bone health. Angie grew up as a competitive dancer and swimmer, and she realized the impact eating certain foods before a competition or meet had on her performance. After earning degrees in both Dietetics and Exercise Science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she went on to complete her dietetic internship, got certified as a Registered Dietitian, and completed her Master of Science Degree in Nutrition & Physical Performance. We would like to extend a special thank you to Sunsweet Growers for sponsoring this episode of Bone Talk. Click here to learn more and listen to this episode.
Listen and learn more here: bonetalk.org
Tune in to these past episodes:
The BHOF Quick Guide provides some key facts about osteoporosis, simple steps you can take to protect your bones, and a list of support resources to help you connect with fellow osteoporosis patients or get involved in helping those suffering from the disease.
The Preparing for Your Visit With Your Doctor and Healthcare Team booklet offers information to help you prepare for your visit and contains the following four sections: Preparing for Your Appointment, Finding a Specialist and Getting a Second Opinion, Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider, and What to Expect if You Are Diagnosed With Low Bone Density or Osteoporosis.
The educational resources in the Patient Resource Library are BHOFās most up-to-date publications and videos geared towards patients, caregivers and the general public. These materials provide general information about osteoporosis and low bone density. They are not intended to replace the services of trained and qualified health professionals or to be a substitute for medical advice of physicians. For more information, see our complete Medical Disclaimer.
Whether youād like to connect with fellow osteoporosis patients or get more involved to help those suffering from the disease, we have resources available to help you. Follow the links below to learn how you can join our online community, start or join a BHOF Support Group or find an osteoporosis event happening in your own community. Find the resources you need:
Explore a new patient pathway online tool ā Your Path to Good Bone Health. This digital knowledge-roadmap provides patients and care partners with the information they need to take control of their bone health, manage their osteoporosis and prevent debilitating fractures.
If you or someone you love has osteoporosis (or weak or brittle bones) or low bone density, you have the power to improve how we care for these diseases by sharing your experiences.
A first of its kind tool in the osteoporosis field, the Healthy Bones, Build Them for LifeĀ® Patient Registry surveys patients and caregivers about how osteoporosis and low bone density impact their lives. This patient-reported information is collected anonymously, combined, and analyzed by the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) to map out the patient journey. This map will show BHOF and the broader bone health community what patients need and want most.
Raise awareness about osteoporosis by telling others about your experiences. Sharing your journey will help others understand the impact of this disease and gain an understanding of what it’s like for someone who has it.
Visit our blog, Bone Talk, to get inspiration from our Voices of Osteoporosis stories like the ones below.
If you’d like to be featured, click here.
Andrew LlodrĆ”
A Young Manās Story: How Motivation, Commitment and Exercise Impacted His Bone Health
Victoria Schmidt
It’s Working: My Three-Fold Approach to Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is responsible for an estimated two million broken bones per year, yet nearly 80 percent of older Americans who suļ¬er bone breaks are not tested or treated for osteoporosis.
Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help slow or stop the loss of bone mass and help prevent fractures.
A womanās risk of fracture is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer.
A man is more likely to break a bone due to osteoporosis than he is to get prostate cancer.
