Osteoporosis is a common condition affecting millions of people worldwide. It is a serious disease that causes our bones to become weak which results in a higher chance of a broken bone (or fracture) when we have a simple fall. Bone is a living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced. Osteoporosis happens when the creation of new bone no longer keeps up with the loss of old bone.

Osteopenia is a loss of bone mineral density (BMD). This means that that your bones are classified as weaker (or less dense) than normal, but not quite as weak as those with osteoporosis. However, people with osteopenia are at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis.

Generally, after age 35, our bones begin to break down faster than they build up. Even in healthy individuals, bone density decreases by less than 1% every year.

Key Statistics:

Osteoporosis affects around 200 million women worldwide

Menopause increases the risk of developing osteoporosis

Bones become less dense as we age leading to an increased risk of bone fracture

Most common bones to break are the wrist, hip, and spine

1 in 3 women over age 50 will experience osteoporosis fractures worldwide

1 in 5 men aged over 50 will have low bone density. For Asian and Caucasian men, the statistics is 1 in 3 men

Osteopenia does not cause any signs or symptoms. Osteoporosis is known to be a “silent” disease because there are typically no symptoms until a bone is broken. Once your bones have been weakened by osteoporosis, you may experience symptoms of a vertebral fracture, such as back pain, loss of height, a stooped posture (kyphosis).

The bone mineral density scan (DXA) is the primary method to detect and diagnose osteoporosis. They can be ordered by your general practitioner (GP). The measurements, known as T-scores, can tell us if you have osteoporosis, osteopenia or normal bone density.

Although osteoporosis is not reversible, weight-bearing exercise along with dietary changes can prevent or even stop further bone loss, reducing the risk of getting a fracture.

At Sports & Spinal, we have the expertise and experience to ensure you manage your bone health safely. We are the first clinic in Asia that is certified to carry out Onero™, an evidence-based exercise programme specifically designed to prevent osteoporotic fracture, maximize bone density and prevent falls and fractures. Our Bone Health Asia team are highly experienced in delivering Onero™ to at-risk clients.

Onero™ is an evidence-based exercise programme designed to prevent osteoporotic fracture by stimulating bone development and preventing falls. It is appropriate for adults of any age with osteoporosis and those who are at risk of developing it.

The programme is based on the outcomes of the LIFTMOR and MEDEXOP trials that were published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (JBMR):

The Research

The latest research from The Bone Clinic shows that significant improvement was observed in every measured parameter relevant to bone health:

Lumbar Spine Bone Mass Density (BMD): Increase of 4.0 to 4.1%

Total Hip BMD: Increase of 1.5 to 3.4%

Femoral Neck BMD:  2.4 to 4.5%

Lean Mass:  1.8 to 4.1% (P<.0001)

Functional Reach: 8.1 to 12.0%

Back Extensor Strength:  Increase of 27.8% to 49.1%

Previous fractures:  Decreased 91.7%

[1] Beck BR and Weis LJ: Translating high intensity loading for osteoporosis to the real world: Two year observations from The Bone Clinic. Research to Practice Annual Scientific Meeting of Exercise and Sports Science Australia, Brisbane, Australia, 27-29 March 2018 (Winner: Practitioner Award)

Not all exercise improves bone mass. Research from the LIFTMOR study has demonstrated that only certain types of high intensity weight-bearing exercise can be safe and effective in improving bone health. This is why Onero™’s higher intensity exercise protocols have been specifically designed for bone health.

The exercise protocol of Onero™ is targeted specifically to bone, being brief but high intensity. One of the great features of Onero™ is that you don’t need to exercise five days of the week. Research has found that just twice a week is enough to stimulate bone, improve muscle and help prevent falls. In fact, the original research that underpins Onero™ included only 1 hour of exercise a week.

To be safe and effective the programme must be supervised by an accredited Onero™ practitioner (physiotherapist or exercise physiologist). Our Bone Health Asia physiotherapists are licensed and certified to deliver Onero™ to clients in Hong Kong.