UNBREAKABLE - The OC Podcast Osteoporosis Canada

A fear of falling can develop after a stressful life event or a fall that has resulted in a fracture. Falling from standing height – even when falling on concrete or ice – shouldn’t result in a broken bone – but if it does – that can be an indicator of osteoporosis. On this episode, Dr. Jenna Gibb assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at McGill University discusses what can cause a fall, what is the standard definition of a fall, if you do fall, what you should do and more.

As we age, our needs change and so do our appetites and the type of foods we prefer. This can make it more difficult to get the bone-building nutrients we need. For older adults and seniors, it’s important to continue good nutritional habits while also recognizing changing needs. Pr. Genevieve Mailhot, Registered Dietitian, Full Professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Montreal and a researcher at the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center discusses eating habits as we age, what affects our appetites and how to make sure individuals, especially older adults and seniors get the bone building nutrients needed.

Many people think of osteoporosis as a condition you develop later in life. That’s not always the case and being aware of the factors associated with the disease can help you reduce your risk. In this episode, Dr. Rowena Ridout an endocrinologist at Toronto Western Hospital, staff physician in the UHN Osteoporosis Program and Chair of Osteoporosis Canada’s Scientific Advisory Council discusses why women and men under 50 can develop osteoporosis, what are the signs and symptoms and how other conditions, medications and treatments can affect your bone health.

If you have just had a fracture, you may think you have to stop being active. But did you know that moving and exercising safely is important for recovery and managing your future bone health? Dr. Caitlin McArthur is a physiotherapist and an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University. She does research on improving the effectiveness of and access to rehabilitation for people living with chronic health conditions. On this episode, Dr. McArthur discusses how you should proceed with an exercise plan after a fracture, the type of exercises that are beneficial for bone health and in managing osteoporosis, who you should consult about staying active and more.

Spinal cord injuries are always concerning, more complex than they seem and can also be connected to osteoporosis. Dr. Cathy Craven is the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute/ University of Toronto Chair in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Rehabilitation, Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Medical Director of the Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program and Senior Scientist at KITE Research Institute within University Health Network. On this episode, Dr. Craven discusses what a spinal cord injury is, if having a spinal cord injury increases your likelihood of getting osteoporosis, how to preserve your bone mass after a spinal cord injury and more.

The terms osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are often mistakenly used interchangeably as they are two separate diagnoses. Dr. Heather McDonald-Blumer, a rheumatologist is a member of the Division of Rheumatology at Mt. Sinai Hospital/University Health Network. Her clinical interests include osteoporosis and inflammatory joint disease. She is the associate director of the Osteoporosis Program at UHN and is a member of Osteoporosis Canada’s Scientific Advisory Committee. On this episode, Dr. McDonald-Blumer discusses each condition, what makes them similar, how you can manage both conditions and more.