Approximately 54 million Americans have low bone density or osteoporosis. Join us in raising awareness about osteoporosis and bone health!
There are several ways to participate in Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month!
There is so much you can do to spread awareness and show your support by using social media. It’s 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, tweets and images, making it easier for everyone to spread the news far and wide about the importance of exercise and good bone health.
Download the toolkit today:
PDF Version
Word Version
Additional Resources
American Bone Health Partner Toolkit:
Word Version
Kick-off to Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month: Steps to Strong Bones™
Monday, May 1, at 12pm ET
Help us kick off Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month with a lively discussion about bone health! Did you know that BHOF hosts a Steps to Strong Bones™ Zoom meeting at 12pm ET on the first Monday of every month? May’s meeting is the perfect time to join the group if you’ve never participated. This is a place where you can connect with like-minded individuals and share your progress when it comes to moving more and living a healthy lifestyle. If you’d like to participate (just once or more), click here to sign-up and we’ll be sure to send you the link to the Zoom meeting every month.
Strength Training and Balance Training Using Exercise Gliding Discs
Monday, May 1, at 4pm ET
This class is for experienced exercisers with osteoporosis. Improving balance is a priority for those with osteoporosis. Falls and fall-related injuries, such as a hip fracture, can have a serious consequences. Being nervous about falling may cause you to withdraw from daily activities and decrease your quality of life. Gliders (sliders) can help you to have better balance and coordination and are a fantastic addition to your workout. There are unlimited exercise progressions and regressions, which make it appropriate for all ages. Using gliders can simulate the feeling of being on a slippery surface such as ice or soft ground thereby training your body to react in a way which would prevent a fall. It is fun to change up a routine –you will never be bored. Gliders are portable and can be used on any surface. You should have clearance from your healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise routine. You will need gliders, hand weights, a mat, resistance band. Have a chair, sturdy table or barre available so that you can have something to hold on to if needed. You can contact Carol Michaels to make sure that this class is appropriate for your health issues and fitness level. If you would like to participate, send an email to caroljmichaels@gmail.com and you will receive a Zoom invite the evening before the class. Class size is limited. For more information about Carol, visit www.CarolMichaelsFitness.com.
Sunday Gentle Pilates Classes at Symmetry Dance and Wellness
Sundays, May 7-28, 1:30pm-3pm ET
Symmetry Dance Wellness, 2006 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA, 267.601.1442
Learn how to strengthen your core, improve breathing, flexibility, concentration, and balance. While this 90-minute mat class is safe if you have osteoporosis, you should have clearance from your healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise routine. Classes are $22.00 or via the Symmetry class card punch. $10.00 per person for ALL the May Sunday classes will be donated to the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF). For questions, please contact the Instructor, BHOF Ambassador Penelope Wasserman, at 413.464.4745c.
Your Path to Good Bone Health – Preventing and Managing Osteoporosis Webinar
Wednesday, May 10, 11am ET
Hosted by Presbyterian Senior Services of New York, please join Lindsey West, Chief Program Officer at the Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation (BHOF), as she talks about the importance of maintaining your bone health as you age. With May being Osteoporosis Awareness & Prevention Month, come learn more about how you prevent and manage the disease while preserving the health of your bones! Click here to register.
Risk Assessment & Diagnosis Webinar
Wednesday, May 10, 2pm ET
Join Dr. Kristi Tough DeSapri, MD, Internist, to learn about various risk factors associated with osteoporosis, including lifestyle choices, genetics, and certain medical conditions. You will also learn about diagnostic tools and how to interpret results. The webinar will emphasize patient education and empowerment, providing strategies for improving bone health and preventing fractures. Finally, this webinar will discuss which types of healthcare providers treat osteoporosis and when to talk to your primary care physician about a potential referral to a specialist.
This webinar has ended. Click here to watch the recording.
Medication & Treatment Webinar
Monday, May 15, 1pm ET
Join BHOF Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Andrea Singer, for an informative webinar about osteoporosis medication and treatment options. Hear about some of the latest developments in osteoporosis treatments, including types of medications and lifestyle changes. You will also learn about some of the associated benefits and risks and gain insight into speaking with your healthcare provider about treatment planning and osteoporosis management.
This webinar has ended. Click here to watch the recording.
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
Bone Health Challenge: Navigate Osteoporosis Confidently
4-Day | Live | Online
Starts Thursday, May 18 at 12pm ET
75 minutes
Hosted by iPIVOT-now
Register for free at BoneHealthChallenge.LIVE
or copy and paste https://ipivot-now.com/challenge/bone-health/
This challenge will show you a powerful roadmap to navigating osteoporosis so you can create massive empowerment in your life and take charge of your bone health with CONFIDENCE.
If you feel confused, scared to move, and tired of not being where you want to be, learn about the information and strategies used to impact your bone mineral density.
- Bust through the myths around bone mineral density
- Use exercise to combat poor posture, prevent falls & Osteoporosis
- Learn how to cut through the noise and understand your options by navigating your Bone Health Roadmap
- Discover how to reduce the worry and feelings of helplessness around bone health diagnosis
- Dive into nutrients that matter for Bone Health
- Turn your so-so healthcare appointments into effective conversations that better meet your needs
- Learn about the research -backed program where over 83% of participants improved their bone mineral density.
- Regain hope and be inspired!
New Podcast Episodes in May for Osteoporosis Awareness & Prevention Month
Thursday, May 4: Understanding Osteoporosis and Bone Health in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Community – With Dr. Steven Ing, MD, Physician and Clinical Associate Professor at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center – Click here to listen now.
Tuesday, May 16: Active Aging with Iris Apfel, BHOF Ambassador, Legendary Designer and Fashion Icon – Click here to listen now.
Listen and learn more here: bonetalk.org
Tune in to these past episodes:
Whether you’d 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 – 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 Life® 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.
Victoria Schmidt
It’s Working: My Three-Fold Approach to Osteoporosis
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.
Osteoporosis is responsible for an estimated two million broken bones per year, yet nearly 80 percent of older Americans who suffer 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 woman’s 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.
Thank you to our 2023 Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month Sponsors!
Managing Sponsor
Supporting Sponsor
