It is estimated that 137 million women and 21 million men have high osteoporotic fracture risk globally.
Over three million people in the UK are living with osteoporosis with the prevalence expected to double in the next 40 years.
Fractures of the hip and spine can lead to loss of independence, disability and reduced life expectancy.
Vertebral fractures are associated with long-term back pain and other physical and psychological symptoms, whereas hip fractures are associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
Current approaches to reduce risk of fracture include identifying people with significant fracture risk and prescribing pharmaceutical treatment, using education and support to promote adherence to medication, and developing falls prevention strategies especially for those who are older and frailer.
Additional strategies include healthy eating with adequate calcium and vitamin D, not smoking or consuming excessive alcohol and being physically active in adolescence and young adulthood to maximise peak bone mass.
Epidemiological and intervention studies provide evidence of a strong relationship between physical activity, exercise and bone health, with regular exercisers having a lower incidence of fracture.
Research now encourages people with osteoporosis to undertake resistance and impact exercise to maximise bone strength and should take part in activities to improve strength and balance to reduce falls and undertake spinal extension exercise to improve posture, and potentially reduce pain levels caused by vertebral fractures, risk of falls and vertebral fracture.
If you have, or are at risk of having osteoporosis, you could book here to have an assessment with one of our specialist South Cambridgeshire physios at Penn Farm Physio.
Please click here to be forwarded to the Osteoporosis Society for more information.