New Curtin University research has found a concerning lack of knowledge about osteoporosis among older Australians, with many unaware of the exercises that can protect their bones and reduce their risk of falls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Curtin University study of more than 1,400 Australians aged 50 and over has found people have a surprisingly low level of knowledge about osteoporosis \u2013 a condition that weakens bones and makes them more likely to break \u2013 scoring just 29.5 out of 100 in a test of bone health knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The biggest gaps were around exercise, with more than half of participants unable to identify the specific types of exercises, such as resistance training, that can help prevent osteoporosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than one-third also could not identify what type of exercise can improve balance and reduce the risk of falls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lead author Phuong Dung Lam, from Curtin\u2019s School of Population Health<\/a>, said osteoporosis was not high on the list of health concerns for many older Australians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPeople know that being active and eating well is important for their health, but they may not realise how important it is to protect their bones,\u201d Ms Lam said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOnly 18 per cent of people in our study said they paid a lot of attention to reducing their risk of osteoporosis despite 30% or women and 13% of men reporting a family history of osteoporosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe need to correct common misunderstandings about bone health and give people clear information about the simple things they can do to reduce their risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The study found men were more than twice as likely as women to have low osteoporosis knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People who were older, had lower levels of education or did not have a family history of osteoporosis were also more likely to have lower knowledge, highlighting groups that may benefit from more targeted bone health education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Senior author Professor Deborah Kerr<\/a>, also from Curtin\u2019s School of Population Health<\/a>, said the findings showed osteoporosis prevention needed to be made a bigger part of healthy ageing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOsteoporosis can go unnoticed until someone breaks a bone, so it is easy to put it out of mind,\u201d Professor Kerr said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe most important thing a person can do is know their risk. Genetics plays a big part \u2013 do they have a parent or grandparent with osteoporosis? We need to help people understand they need to look after their bones before it\u2019s too late \u2013 breaking a bone is a serious medical event but there are changes they can start doing to reduce their risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The study also found osteoporosis was a much lower concern for participants compared to conditions such as cancer and being overweight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Only 4.5 per cent ranked osteoporosis as their biggest health concern, while just one per cent ranked hip fracture as their biggest worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The researchers said this low level of concern, combined with gaps in knowledge, showed the need for clearer and more targeted public health messages about bone health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n