Osteoporosis Canada Clinical Practice Guideline Exercise Recommendations for Fall and Fracture Prevention
Osteoporosis Canada Clinical Practice Guideline Exercise Recommendations for Fall and Fracture Prevention
This course includes
The instructors
Overview
This course delivers a comprehensive review of the latest clinical practice guidelines from Osteoporosis Canada, focusing on evidence-based strategies for fall and fracture prevention in adults aged 50 and older.
In this expert-led session, Dr. Lora Giangregorio, Canada Research Chair in Bone Health and Exercise Science, guides clinicians through fracture risk screening, bone mineral density (BMD) testing, FRAX integration, and the role of nutrition, medication, and exercise in osteoporosis management.
The course emphasizes practical application. Participants will gain clarity on:
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When and how to screen for fracture risk
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How to interpret BMD results alongside clinical risk factors
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What current evidence supports (and does not support) in exercise prescription
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How to safely implement progressive, multicomponent programs for fall and fracture prevention
Special attention is given to under-recognized populations, including men at risk for osteoporosis, and to avoiding fear-based movement restrictions that limit patient outcomes.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
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Identify multifactorial contributors to bone loss, including medical conditions and medications.
- Differentiate between the different medications for osteoporosis and answer patient FAQs.
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Apply Canadian clinical practice guidelines to fracture risk screening and BMD testing decisions.
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Differentiate evidence-based exercise modalities from those lacking sufficient research support.
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Apply exercise recommendations for fall and fracture prevention, and have practical tips for implementation.
Audience
This course is designed for:
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Physiotherapists
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Chiropractors
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Kinesiologists
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Occupational therapists
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Rehabilitation professionals
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Healthcare providers working with aging adults
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Clinicians treating osteoporosis, osteopenia, or high fall risk populations
About the Presenter
Dr. Lora Giangregorio, PhD
Lora Giangregorio, PhD is a Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Bone Health and Exercise Science in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo. She leads the Bone Health and Exercise Science Lab, or BonES lab. The BonES lab team leads research on physical activity for fall and fracture prevention. Dr. Giangregorio is a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for Osteoporosis Canada and was on the leadership team that developed the 2020 Canadian 24-hour Movement Guidelines. She also led the Exercise Working Group for the 2023 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Osteoporosis and Fracture Prevention in Canada.
Why This Course Matters
Osteoporosis affects both women and men - yet men remain under-recognized in fracture prevention strategies. Fracture risk is not determined by BMD alone. Age, hormonal changes, comorbidities (e.g., diabetes, neurological disorders), medications (e.g., glucocorticoids, cancer therapies), fall risk, and bone quality all contribute to overall risk.
The 2023 Canadian guidelines recommend screening adults aged 50+ using clinical risk factors to determine the need for BMD testing and fracture risk assessment tools such as FRAX. This course equips clinicians to move beyond simplistic bone density interpretations toward a nuanced, patient-centered approach.
Key clinical themes include:
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The four pillars of fracture prevention: nutrition, medication, fall prevention, and exercise
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Vitamin D supplementation to meet RDA; prioritizing dietary calcium intake
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Emerging evidence supporting higher protein intake (1.2–1.6 g/kg/day) in active and older adults
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Medication management considerations (e.g., denosumab discontinuation risks)
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The critical importance of progressive overload in resistance training
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Evidence supporting multicomponent programs over isolated modalities
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Avoiding fear-based restrictions (e.g., unnecessary avoidance of squats or deadlifts)
Clinicians will leave with actionable tools to enhance strength, balance, bone quality, and real-world fall resilience in their patients.
The instructors
The Pain Science Division is a special interest group of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association that serves physiotherapists who have an interest in better understanding and managing pain and in connecting with likeminded clinicians, educators and researchers. The mission of the Pain Science Division is to: Foster connections and collaborations between clinicians, educators and researchers interested in pain and physiotherapy, facilitate the bidirectional translation of knowledge between pain research and clinical practice and integrate the professional interests of Canadian physiotherapists within national and international pain networks.
The PSD wants to help advance the level of pain education across the country. Pain is a multi-faceted and complex experience that warrants careful consideration and reflection by both entry-level students and experienced clinicians. Our goal is to address this issue from a multi-pronged perspective. In addition to providing clinicians with opportunities for professional development we also want to be in close communication with university-level educators and clinical specialization regulators.
The Seniors’ Health Division (SHD) is a special interest group within the Canadian Physiotherapy Association. SHD is committed to providing members with services related to older adult health and physiotherapy practice.
It is comprised of physiotherapists from across Canada who work with older adults in a variety of practice settings, including acute geriatric care, geriatric rehabilitative and restorative units, long term care settings, community based and home care settings.
SHD is a member of The International Association of Physical Therapists working with Older Persons.
Vision of the Seniors' Health Division: Older Canadians are moving, moving more and moving better with the help of physiotherapists.
Mission of the Seniors' Health Division: To support our members in providing excellent physiotherapy care to optimize the independence and quality of life of older adults.
Material included in this course
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Course Materials
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Welcome and Slides
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Full presentation
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Summary and Key Insights
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Quiz
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Feedback
Patient education included in this course
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Exercise for Stronger Bones & Fewer Falls
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Nutrition for Bone Health
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Understanding Osteoporosis & Fracture Risk
I'm a member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA). What are the discounts available to CPA Members on Embodia?
As part of our partnership with the CPA, we offer its members discounts on courses and Embodia Memberships. Learn more about the partnership on this page.
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Is a certificate of completion included with this course?
Once you have completed the course, a certificate of completion (including learning hours and course information) will be generated. You can download this certificate at any time. To learn more about course certificates on Embodia please visit this guide.
This can be used for continuing education credits, depending on your professional college or association. If this course has been approved for CEUs in specific jurisdictions, it will be noted on the course page and CEU information may be added to your course certificate. Please read this guide for more information.