From clinical evidence to primary care practice: group exercise and nutrition interventions to support bone density,...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Age-related bone loss, falls, and fragility fractures significantly impact older adults' health and independence.
• Canadian guidelines recommend fracture risk assessment and prevention, but practical implementation of group lifestyle interventions in primary care, especially rural areas, is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the Strong Bones program, a 13-week group exercise and nutrition intervention designed to translate osteoporosis and bone health evidence into scalable primary care practice.
• To report on implementation insights and participant engagement in a primary care-linked setting.

Main Methods:

• The Strong Bones program integrates progressive resistance training, balance and posture education, spine-sparing movement, and nutrition education.
• Delivered in a group fitness format by an interdisciplinary team.
• Observational data collected from 417 participants.

Main Results:

• The program demonstrated high attendance and retention rates among participants.
• Implementation insights cover referral pathways, program redesign, rebranding, and hybrid delivery models.
• Methodological limitations include scarce long-term outcome data and challenges in monitoring exercise progression.

Conclusions:

• Strong Bones offers a scalable model for delivering group-based, osteoporosis-focused exercise and education within primary care settings.
• Provides practical guidance for clinicians and exercise professionals aiming to enhance fracture prevention, particularly in rural communities.