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: Mary Milidonis, PT, MSPT, PhD
  • STUDENT LIAISONS: Paula Stonehouse SPT, Giulia Marsella SPT

SIG LIAISONS

Bone Health SIG Member Resources

Welcome Letter – October 2023

Welcome to the BHSIG and Fall 2023!

We are heading into the final stretches of 2023, and our focus continues 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. We are excited to bring both the Toolkit and the KT from the CPG/Delphi to life as a resource for your practice and patients.

October 20 is World Osteoporosis Awareness day, and we invite you to check out the many resources through the International Osteoporosis Foundation.  This is a great opportunity as physical therapists to bring awareness and educate our clients and communities about Bone Health and steps to take to stay strong and healthy. 

CSM 2024 is in Boston, MA February 15-17, 2024. Registration is OPEN!  We are excited to present on Thursday, February 15: GR-17875 – Applying a Geriatrics 5Ms Framework to Osteoporosis Management. The Geriatric 5Ms model (What Matters Most, Mind, Mobility, Medications, Multi-complexity) provides a comprehensive approach to older adult care and has been associated with reduced institutionalization, greater independence, and higher levels of physical function.  This 5Ms model provides a framework to address factors impacting bone health and focuses on patient-centered care.   We hope to see you there!

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 all of you!

Lisa Hamilton  PT, DPT, NCPT, CHWC

Chair, APTA Geriatrics Bone Health Special Interest Group

lisahamiltonpt@gmail.com

Bone Health Flash

January 2024 – Welcome to the new year and new opportunities to support bone health and fracture prevention!


News in the World of Osteoporosis


Interdisciplinary Symposium on Osteoporosis (ISO)
The Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation is celebrating its’ 40th Anniversary and will be hosting the ISO2024 with an in-person format June 13-15 in Washington, DC.


ISO2024 will offer educational sessions and networking opportunities to benefit many medical disciplines and specialties working with patients who have and/or at risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
You can participate in CME/CE sessions to expand your knowledge of bone health, improve your practice, and advance your career. Courses on bone health assessment, osteoporosis diagnosis, patient management, exercise, nutrition, post-fracture care and secondary fracture prevention, as well as other specialty topics.


Workshops on Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) Basic and Advanced and BoneFit USA Basic and Clinical Workshops will be offered.


BHOF Resources for your patients:
Bone Talk
Podcast:
Health Snacks for Healthy Bones, https://www.bonetalk.org/podcast-episodes/healthy-snacks-for-healthy-bones


Starting the new year on a good path with proper nutrition to support bone health – throughout the lifestyle. Registered dietician, Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RDN, shares her own self-advocacy experience and tips on attaining nutrients to support bone health. An interesting take that organic foods may not have the ‘fortified’ nutrients needed. Recommendations include what your grandmother may have suggested…there are benefits for prunes… not only for gut health but also bone health!


Blog:
Exercising your Bones, https://www.bonetalk.org/articles/exercising-your-bones.
Three-part series by Pilates instructor, Rebekah Rotstein, NCPT, provides good overview on benefits of exercise, addressing alignment, and importance of balance training to protect bone health.


Expand your Library and Knowledge:
• Dr. Giangregorio and Matteo Ponzano (PhD candidate, at the time) provide an excellent review of the evidence and practical tips on exercise and physical activity recommendations for individuals at risk of a fracture due to osteoporosis. Valuable practice points to reduce fear associated with movement and practical recommendations to keep individuals engaged with safe movement during physical activity and structured exercise.

Giangregorio LM, Ponzano M. Exercise and physical activity in individuals at risk of fracture. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022;36(2):101613 doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2021.101613. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35210190/.


• This same team along with additional leaders in the of OP management performed a Delphi to address non-pharmacological and non-surgical management of osteoporosis vertebral fractures (OVF). They provide evidence-based recommendations for bracing, pain control, exercise and physical activity, assessment, and nutrition. Included is the need to test the efficacy of these recommendations and the effectiveness of implementation into clinical practice…(this is where we can have a role!)


Ponzano M, Tibert N, Brien S, et al. International consensus on the non-pharmacological and non-surgical management of osteoporotic vertebral fractures. Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA 2023;34(6):1065-74 doi: 10.1007/s00198-023-06688-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36799981/.


What’s Happening in the SIG
APTA CSM
Come join us in Boston, February 15, 2024 at 11 am, for our presentation, Applying a Geriatrics 5Ms Framework to Osteoporosis Management. Several of our BHSIG members will be presenting and we will be sharing insights into some of our latest resources….including a Bone Health Toolkit. If you are not able to join in person, there will be on On-Demand recording available.


Journal Club
There is still time to register for the January 16 JClub! https://aptageriatrics.org/journal-club/. This is a new platform for delivery, which will also allow for a recorded session if you are unable to attend live.


The JClub will highlight the work of several of our PT colleagues:
• Article: Wingood, M., Criss, M. G., Irwin, K. E., Freshman, C., Phillips, E. L., Dhaliwal, P., & Chui, K. K. (2023). Screening for Osteoporosis Risk Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Scoping Review. J Geriatr Phys Ther. doi:10.1519/jpt.0000000000000381. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36827688/
• Case Presenter: Megan O’Connor, PT, DPT. Let’s Get Physical with Bone Loss. Watch for her case study to be shared in the January edition of GeriNotes (the case study will also be accessible after registration)


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!


Best Wishes for a Healthy and Happy New Year,


Kathlene Camp, PT, DPT
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 65 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 TallTM DVD

A new Stand TallTM 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.