Course overview

Bone Fit™ Course Objectives:

The initial concept for the Bone Fit™ course was developed by Osteoporosis Canada in conjunction with an advisory committee made up of expert clinicians and academics with an express interest or practice in the area of osteoporosis and exercise.  This group identified key objectives for the course to address and enlisted contributions from other osteoporosis experts to finalize the syllabus for the Bone Fit™ course.

The Bone Fit™ course provides a comprehensive curriculum that includes baseline online learning modules followed by an instructional clinical workshop.  The syllabus across both mediums covers the following content:

1) Definition, pathogenesis, prevalence and cost of osteoporosis; 

2) The key risk factors for osteoporosis, an overview of secondary osteoporosis, BMD testing and the application of the 10-year fracture risk assessment;

3) Recommended Canadian guidelines for osteoporosis management, including nutrition, supplements, medication and exercise/physical activity;

4) An evidence-based review of bone biomechanics, the effects of aging on bone, and fracture mechanics;

5) Summaries of the current research on contraindicated and indicated movement for persons with osteoporosis;

6) A review of safe, evidenced-based clinical measures for screening and assessing osteoporosis;

7) In-clinic screening for osteoporosis;

8) An evidence-based synopsis of recommendations for appropriate and safe exercises (along with alternatives/adaptations) for:

a) strengthening (including use of exercise machines, free weights, exercise bands and core exercises)

b) balance retraining/fall prevention

c) cardiovascular training

d) postural and flexibility retraining (including looking at the do's and don'ts of popular forms of exercise such as yoga)

9) An overview of current evidence for safe exercises/activities that build bone and help prevent bone loss;

10) A review of safe modifications of activities of daily living.

Input from Consumers & Practitioners

Using the proposed Bone Fit™ objectives, a needs survey was sent out to persons with osteoporosis/low bone mass (osteopenia) via Osteoporosis Canada's COPN (Canadian Osteoporosis Patient Network) in February 2009. Participants were asked about their current needs for guidance in exercise and activity, their reasons for consulting someone qualified in osteoporosis exercise and what osteoporosis knowledge would be most important for their clinician to possess. The responses from 175 participants helped shape the initial content of the syllabus for the workshop. Key areas of content important to persons with osteoporosis/low bone mass included: fracture risk assessment, safe recommendations for exercise, ability to provide safe adaptations/alternative exercises, and comprehensive knowledge of development and progression of osteoporosis.

A subsequent survey was developed in April 2009 and administered to health care practitioners who would assess, recommend and/or conduct exercise-training programs for patients with low bone mass/osteoporosis or those patients at risk for future fractures. These practitioners were mainly kinesiologists, physical therapists and certified exercise physiologists. Over 100 respondents provided input on the proposed syllabus developed out of the consumer survey. Feedback was obtained in the areas of: relative importance of proposed topics, their preferences on method of delivery of various learning modules, suggestions as to any required resources and any additional content topics that should be included.

The final syllabus was developed incorporating the needs of both the consumer and the practitioner.

Overview of Bone Fit ™ Course

The course will be presented in two parts: one online self-learning module and an interactive workshop. Pre-course materials placed online are divided into three self-directed learning modules covering: 1- Osteoporosis basics, 2- Biomechanics of bone and fractures, and 3- Evidence for indicated and contraindicated movements. The workshop will focus on the assessment of the osteoporotic patient and recommendations for safe exercise. It will be conducted over one and a half days using both problem-based cases to facilitate learning and interactive practical sessions.

Credit information