Bone Health Exercise Program

Bones respond to load. Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones become thinner and break more easily, and osteopenia is lower bone density that has not reached that point. Healthy Bones Australia recommends three types of exercise for bone health: weight-bearing impact exercise such as heel drops or jumping, progressive resistance training with weights, and balance training.^1,2 Because exercise needs to be ongoing, our program teaches you how to continue safely at home or in a gym.²

The Healthy Bones Australia position statement places exercise alongside prescribed osteoporosis medicines in the management of osteoporosis. Please continue any medicines unless your doctor advises otherwise.² We cannot promise that exercise will prevent fractures.

Safety shapes the program. For people with vertebral fractures or a history of multiple fractures, Healthy Bones Australia advises a low starting load, slow progression, slow controlled movements and avoiding excessive spinal bending and twisting under load.^1,4 Supervision from a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist is recommended for adults with osteoporosis, including after a fracture.² Higher-intensity resistance and impact training, like the protocol used in the LIFTMOR trial,³ is not suitable for everyone, and we only progress to it after assessment and with supervision.