Tone up your bones in your own home with a physio designed exercise program

Michelle Kenway, a physiotherapist located in the Women´s Health Unit at Mater Private Hospital Redland (MPHR), has designed a unique exercise program called, “Bone-Fit for Beginners”, a professional exercise program to improve bone health and prevent the onset of osteoporosis.

Available in both DVD and video format, “Bone-Fit for Beginners” is based upon extensive research into the exercises proven to be the most effective for improved bone health in the most recent scientific medical studies.

According to Ms Kenway, it is currently predicted that one in every two Australian women and one in three men over the age of 60 years will be likely to sustain a bone fracture due to osteoporosis. However, many people remain unaware about how to exercise most effectively to prevent bone loss and improve their bone health.

“The exercises demonstrated in this program is based entirely upon recent findings of large, randomised and controlled trials into strength training programs shown to significantly improve bone health in pre and post-menopausal population.

“It consists of low impact exercises designed specifically to improve muscle strength, spinal posture, balance, deep core muscle stability and control, muscle and joint flexibility and functional ability,” said Ms Kenway.

Bone-Fit for Beginners not only aims to improve bone health and reduce the likelihood of hip, spine and wrist fracture and the individual's ability to perform functional activities, but to also reduce the likelihood of falls and pain associated with poor posture, flexibility and lack of deep abdominal muscle control.

Bone-Fit for Beginners is suitable for individuals who have:

• normal BMD (T score above −1 SD)
• a moderate fracture risk (T score below −1 SD and above −2.5 SD)
• an increased risk of osteoporosis, particularly menopausal women.

“The DVD/video is easy to follow and carefully guides you safely through each of the exercises and allows you to exercise at your own level of comfort and ability. It provides a fantastic alternative to high impact exercise, which is not always possible or appropriate,” Ms Kenway said.

However, this program is not suitable for individuals with high fracture risk (BMD below −2.5) with or without atraumatic fracture(s).

The program is available on DVD/Video for $39 (inc. GST) and can be purchased by contacting Healthy Fit Physio on +61 7 3163 0644 or email enquiries@healthyfitphysio.com.au.

Michelle Kenway has a Bachelor in Applied Science (Phty) Diploma in Education and is a Member of APA .