Bone Health Special Interest Group

Welcome to the Bone Health Special Interest Group! Please visit this page often for access to numerous resources to support your practice in evidence based treatment and education related to bone health AND for SIG news and events.

The primary purpose of the Bone Health SIG is to:

Develop and apply research and knowledge to
- Promote, maintain, and preserve bone health through the life span
- Reduce age-related bone loss
- Reduce fracture risk
Manage and treat bone loss, osteoporosis and fractures
Expand understanding of bone and its unique response to mechanical loading and exercise
Increase public awareness of the role of physical therapy in the promotion of bone- healthy exercise and lifestyle and the management and treatment of bone loss and fracture
Develop guidelines for successful clinical practice.
Inform all physical therapy practice to incorporate knowledge of bone into everyday practice and exercise prescription, with emphasis on bone building exercise in youth and safe, non- compressive core and balance exercises for older adults.

There are many opportunities for participation, so please consider getting involved! To participate or learn more about current SIG activities and projects, contact the SIG chair.

SIG LEADERSHIP

CHAIR: Lisa Hamilton, PT, DPT
VICE CHAIR: Kathlene Camp, PT, DPT
SECRETARY: Cynthia Barros, PT, DPT
STUDENT LIAISONS: Paula Stonehouse SPT, Giulia Marsella SPT

SIG LIAISONS

BH SIG News

BH SIG Events

No Upcoming Events Found

BH SIG MINUTES

BH SIG Newsletters

[BHSIG Newsletter April 2023"]

Bone Health SIG Member Resources

Welcome Letter – April 2023

Happy April! On behalf of APTA Geriatrics Bone Health SIG, we wish you all a delightful Spring Season.

2023 continues with our focus on building the Bone Health toolkit. We are excited to bring this resource to life and feel that it will be an important resource for both clinicians and patients with osteoporosis and compromised bone health. This toolkit will include guidance for evidence based screening, evaluation and interventions that are based upon the CPG/Delphi Study, as well as a compendium of additional resources that are user friendly and accessible. Our working goal is to have this available in Fall 2023.

Collateral work continues on providing Knowledge Translation(KT) of the documents supporting physical therapist management of patients with Osteoporosis (available from our website). We are excited to bring both the Toolkit and the KT to life as a resource for your practice and patients.

May is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, and we invite you to check out the many resources on their site: https://www.bonehealthandosteoporosis.org/awareness-month/

There are many ways to raise awareness in your community regarding Osteoporosis and low bone density, and BHOF has provided templates, ideas for education for consumers and clinicians and social media engagement.

Please look for an announcement of a virtual member meeting (via Zoom) in early August. The registration information will be on the Academy of Geriatrics website.

In case you haven’t heard – APTA Geriatrics offers FREE Student dues for Academy membership. Tap all the students in you programs, communities and practice to join the

Academy and BHSIG! We are excited to have 2 student liaisons in 2023 to contributing to our leadership efforts, as well as increasing student engagement. Welcome to Paula Stonehouse and Giulia Marsella, both at Duke University entering into their final clinical rotation.

I would like to thank our outgoing chair, Kathy Brewer, for her leadership, mentorship and overall expertise and contribution to our practice area and profession. Kathy will continue to be quite active in our SIG with her mentorship, and work on the KT and Toolkit.

Lastly, thank you to all who continue to contribute to our SIG and to the leadership team. We would not be successful as a volunteer organization without contributions from any and all of you.

Lisa Hamilton PT, DPT, NCPT, CHWC

Chair, APTA Geriatrics Bone Health Special Interest Group

lisahamiltonpt@gmail.com

Bone Health Flash

April 2023 – Happy Spring!

Hope everyone is enjoying some time in the sunshine to get natural Vit D and outdoor gardening or exercise! Next month, May, is Osteoporosis Awareness month and we would like to provide some resources for getting educated on updates in bone health and possibly ways you can educate your patients and your community.

Expand your Library and Knowledge:
Best-Evidence Research in Evaluation and Intervention (watch supporting KT and Toolkit coming soon):
• Avin, K. G., et al. (2022). “Essential Components of Physical Therapist Management of Patients With Osteoporosis: A Delphi Study.” J Geriatr Phys Ther 45(2): E120-e126. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35384944/
• Hartley, G. W., et al. (2022). “Physical Therapist Management of Patients With Suspected or Confirmed Osteoporosis: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy.” J Geriatr Phys Ther 44(2): E106-e119. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35384943/
• Wingood, M., et al. (2023). “Screening for Osteoporosis Risk Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Scoping Review.” J Geriatr Phys Ther. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36827688/.

Recent Publications:
• Our PT colleagues have published their scoping review on osteoporosis screening tools:
Wingood M, Criss MG, Irwin KE, Freshman C, Phillips EL, Dhaliwal P, Chui KK. Screening for Osteoporosis Risk Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Scoping Review. J Geriatr Phys Ther. 2023 Feb 24. doi: 10.1519/JPT.0000000000000381. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36827688. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36827688/

• We all have a role in primary care management of osteoporosis and bone health. Check out this article for action steps and discover your role as part of a collaborative multidisciplinary team:
Singer AJ, Sharma A, Deignan C, Borgermans L. Closing the gap in osteoporosis management: the critical role of primary care in bone health. Curr Med Res Opin. 2023 Mar;39(3):387-398. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2022.2141483. Epub 2023 Jan 24. PMID: 36597741. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36597741/
Hybrid Bone Health Training Workshop: BoneFit USA Workshop: Check out this link for the available training for clinicians and exercise specialists. If you have already been trained, consider hosting a workshop to expand knowledge in your own community.
Educate your Community: May is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation/BHOF (formerly known as National Osteoporosis Foundation/NOF) changed its name in October 2021. I believe their new title reflects the awareness of the need to address bone health throughout the lifespan by addressing peak development in youth, ongoing bone health
and prevention of significant loss, and bone protection following a diagnosis. May is a great time to spread this message. Here are a couple of opportunities with resources through this foundation:
• The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF) provides three virtual educational ‘paths’ for 1) those who want to know if they are at risk, 2) those recently diagnosed with osteoporosis, and 3) those wanting more information on managing their condition. Your Path to good bone health™
• Look through the prior recorded podcasts and stories shared. Also, watch for updates to be coming soon: May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month
The American Bone Health Organization has several online resources and workshop events. Check here for the latest: https://americanbonehealth.org/events/
What’s Happening in the SIG
• Bone Health Toolkit- A task force has come together to consolidate recent evidence-based information in an easily digestible and practical way to support bone health care which includes resources to address: screening, evaluation, intervention, understanding for pharmacotherapy, and community resources.
• Knowledge Translation- We have a team working together to disseminate recent evidence-based documents on PT management of osteoporosis within an age-friendly Geriatrics 5M’s framework. Watch for updates and access to clinician and patient-facing resource materials to put this evidence into practice.
Opportunities to Get Involved:
• Bone Health Toolkit – join the task force (see above) – contact Lisa Hamilton, lisahamiltonpt@gmail.com.
• Journal Club- present a case study for our January 2024 Bone Health journal club; contact Cynthia Barros, ptcynthia1@gmail.com
• Promote bone health in May- see our Bone Health SIG website for resources to support your initiative
• Come join our next Bone Health SIG meeting in August
Join the SIG
To receive regular updates and access to all resources, join our SIG . You will need to ‘Login’ with your APTA ID in order to complete the registration. We would love to have your insight!
Membership BHSIG meeting:
Please visit: https://aptageriatrics.org/sig/bone-health-special-interest-group/ for updates.
Our next membership meeting will be in August. Watch for notifications to register and come join us!
Best to all,
Kathlene Camp, PT, DPT, MS, CEEAA
Board Certified Specialist in Geriatric Physical Therapy
Vice Chair, BHSIG

^{BoneFit™ USA}

Register for the new workshop here.

What Is BoneFit™?
BoneFit™ is an evidence-informed exercise training workshop, designed for healthcare professionals and exercise specialists to provide training on the most appropriate, safe and effective methods to prescribe and progress exercise for people with osteoporosis. BoneFit™ includes two different levels of workshops – BoneFit™ Basics and BoneFit™ Clinical. BoneFit™ Basics workshops are aimed at exercise and fitness professionals. BoneFit™ Clinical workshops are aimed at rehabilitation professionals. BoneFit™ was created and launched by Osteoporosis Canada in 2010. BHOF is working with Osteoporosis Canada and the founders of BoneFit™ to bring this training program to the United States.

Get BoneFit™ Trained
WHO’S ELIGIBLE?
Exercise and fitness professionals that work with uncomplicated osteoporosis clients are eligible to participate in BoneFit™ Basics workshops. Rehabilitation professionals working in a clinical environment with simple or complex osteoporosis patients are eligible to participate in the BoneFit™ Clinical workshops. Students in both fields are also welcome to participate.

WHAT DO WORKSHOPS ENTAIL?
Each workshop includes two components – online learning modules that need to be completed in advance and in-person training. After completing the online modules and the in-person training, attendees must pass an online quiz with 70% to be officially BoneFit™ Trained. Healthcare professionals may be eligible for continuing education credits for participating in a workshop.

HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE IF YOU ARE CERTIFIED?
If you are interested in helping grow the BoneFit™ USA initiative by partnering for future workshops or being a BoneFit™ trainer, please contact us at education@bonehealthandosteoporosis.org.

Bone Health References – 2021 Update

Secondary Fracture Prevention – a Multi-stakeholder Coalition Solution for a Current Gap in Treatment

The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) assembled a multi-stakeholder coalition including representation from the American Physical Therapy Association to develop clinical recommendations for the optimal prevention of secondary fracture among people aged 65â€‰years and older with a hip or vertebral fracture. Review of this document describes essential strategies requiring collaboration within care management teams addressing education, communication and interventions. “Emphasizing the connection between fracture and osteoporosis elevates the fracture from an unfortunate accident to a sentinel event indicative of an important underlying chronic disorder.” There is frequent failure to investigate the diagnosis of osteoporosis and provide the long-term integrated care that this chronic condition requires. Following the first fracture it is imperative to initiate immediate interventions to increase the number of patients receiving appropriate osteoporosis treatment. Physical therapists have a long history of successful intervention for acute osteoporotic fractures, but often do not continue care for lifelong management of these patients. Additionally, the medical management across specialties is frequently inconsistent. Given the treatment gap for comprehensive management of this condition, there are predictable complications which will have lifelong impact on function and quality of life. Therefore, physical therapists must actively embrace this call to action. We are vital members of the multidisciplinary team, and with aggressive evidence based approach to encompass the full scope of therapy interventions throughout the lives of these patients, we can fully support the overall strategies presented by the coalition.

Review the full article: Conley RB, Adib G, et al. (2020). “Secondary Fracture Prevention: Consensus Clinical Recommendations from a Multistakeholder Coalition.” J Bone Miner Res 35(1): 36-52. PMID: 31538675 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.3877

Osteoporosis & Aquatic Exercise: New Concepts, Updated Research, Novel Techniques

Community Bone Health Presentation

Why Start A Community Exercise Program

Please watch Sherri Betz, PT DPT, former chair of the BGSIG in this featured podcast.

Stand Tall^TM DVD

A new Stand Tall^TM DVD by Wendy Katzman, DSc, PT, OCS has been produced the UCSF Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Center. To order the video, contact Anthony.Casino@ucsf.edu

What Are Evidence-Based Exercise Programs and Why Are They Important?

Do It RIGHT! and Prevent Fractures!
The Bone-Healthy Way of Life and Exercise

American Bone Health would like to acknowledge the hard work and determination of the author Sherri Betz, PT, GCS, in bringing this important information to the public. We thank the models Jan and Lee Prawitz, Sue Walters and Joan White, who donated their time to show others how to keep their bones fracture free. We recognize and thank Nancy Abodeely, PT, OCS, for reviewing the final content to ensure we communicated safe and effective activities and exercises. American Bone Health is proud to have the endorsement of the Bone Health Special Interest Group of the APTA Geriatrics, American Physical Therapy Association, for this work.

Sherri Betz presentation of the National Osteoporosis Foundation Webinar: Safe Pilates and Yoga for Bone Health now available.

Webinar: Safe Pilates and Yoga for Bone Health

BONE HEALTH SIG