Healthy Bones Action Week (formerly Nationally Healthy Bones Week) has been encouraging people of all ages to protect their bones since its inception in 1994.

Osteoporosis is one of the least-discussed, under-diagnosed and under-treated diseases in Australia, yet poor bone health affects 2 in 3 Australians over 50 years, including a growing number of men.

You are never too young – or old – to act when it comes to protecting your bones.

Healthy Bones Action Week calls on Australians of all ages to take the three actions to build and maintain healthy bones:

1. Increase daily serves of calcium through milk, cheese or yoghurt.
2. Go for a walk or committing to some new form of regular exercise.
3. Spend time outdoors to get more vitamin D.

Genes and lifestyle impact how strong bones are. While you can’t change your genetics, you can adopt a ‘bonefriendly’ lifestyle which includes adequate calcium intake, exercise and sufficient vitamin D.

Osteoporosis occurs when bones lose calcium and other minerals, making them fragile and more likely to fracture. In Australia, osteoporosis affects 1.2 million people. This number is expected to increase as our population grows older.

Osteoporosis affects more than 1 in 5 women over the age of 65 years, compared with around 1 in 20 men. Women are at greater risk of developing osteoporosis because of the rapid drop in the hormone oestrogen during menopause. In men, testosterone levels decline more gradually. As a result, bone mass in men usually remains adequate until later in life. By age 65, both men and women lose bone at the same rate.

It is never too late to start looking after your bones and take steps to reduce the risk of fracture in the future. For further information download our Osteoporosis Fact Sheet.

Don’t let poor bone health restrict you from living the life you want. Kick start your journey to better bone health with the Fit, Fab & 50 Challenge.

http://www.healthybones.com.au/fit-fab-and-50/live-the-life-you-want

Exercise Right – an initiative of Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA) – is proud to support Healthy Bones Action Week in 2016.

Exercise has been shown to have a positive effect on common chronic diseases including blood pressure, cholesterol, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain. It is also the cheapest and most accessible medicine available.

ACCREDITED EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGISTS ARE THE EXPERTS WHO CAN HELP YOU EXERCISE RIGHT

So why not ensure that we add a dose of exercise right in our prescription for the prevention, treatment and management of these conditions? Speak with our Accredited Exercise Physiologist at Moonee Valley Health and Fitness to assist with exercise management for chronic conditions.

Physical activity and maintaining bone density plays an important role in primary, secondary treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, however it is important to Exercise Right for your uniqueness.

If you are currently living with osteoporosis, referral to an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) is highly recommended to achieve your goals in a safe and effective manner. An AEP is an allied health professional qualified to prescribe the appropriate exercise program for your condition.