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 (coming soon)
Word Version (coming soon)
Freedom from Fractures™ (Webinar)
Date/Time: Wednesday, May 1, 2024, from 1-2pm ET
Speaker: Peer Educator – 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 you’re 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 Calculator™ (developed by American Bone Health) and to initiate fall prevention strategies. Click here to register.
Safe Strength Training for Osteoporosis – for Beginners (Zoom)
Date/Time: Thursday, May 2, at 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.
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: 2100 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.
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
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.
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 BoneSmartPilates® 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.
Posture Power™ (In-person Program)
Date/Time: Monday, May 13, 11:30am ET
Speaker: Peer Educator – Michele Schmidt
Host: Morrison Family YMCA, Community Room, 9405 Bryant Farms Road, Charlotte, NC 28277
Posture Power™ 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, you’ll learn the right ways to do your everyday activities. So, stand tall and get the most out of life!
Healthy Bones for Life™ (In-person Program)
Date/Time: Wednesday, May 15, 11am ET
Speaker: Peer Educator – Michele Schmidt
Host: Sara’s YMCA, Community Room, 15940 Brixham Hill Ave, Charlotte, NC 28277
Healthy Bones for Life™ 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. It’s 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!
Beyond the Break™ (Webinar)
Date/Time: Thursday, May 16, 2024, from 12pm-1pm ET
Host: Tampa General Hospital, Tampa, FL
Speaker: Peer Educator – Beth Maberry
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. Beyond the Break™ 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.
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 Episodes in May for Osteoporosis Awareness & Prevention Month
New episodes coming soon!
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 BHOF’s 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 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.