Waterloo researcher wins $50K for work on osteoporosis, exercise

A local researcher has just won a $50,000 prize for her work helping people with osteoporosis stay active to reduce, and even prevent, bone fractures caused by the condition.

Lora Giangregorio, associate professor of kinesiology at the University of Waterloo, was named the winner of the Bloomberg Manulife Prize for the Promotion of Active Health.

A hip fracture is something that canbe a tipping point foran older adultwho was livingindependently and they then have to rely on others.- Lora Giangregorio, University of Waterloo

She says osteoporosis, typically seen as people get older, is something that should get more attention and resourcesin the health-care system. Patients who sufferafractured hip or spine canbe left with asignificant disability and a higher risk ofdying.

"A hip fracture is something that canbe a tipping point foran older adultwho was livingindependently and they then have to rely on others or perhaps have tomove to an environment where they need a lot more help," she says.

Muscle strengtheningalso key

Giangregori says exercise that strengthens muscles and improves balancecan not only prevent fractures, but can also prevent falls that lead to injury.

"Muscle pulls on bone, so it helps to stimulate bone to stay strong," Giangregoriosays.

0:01Osteoporosis and exercise

University of Waterloo researcher Lora Giangregorio talks to CBC's Craig Norris about new exercise recommendations for people living with osteoporosis

Giangregorio says there have been "great strides" recently with the Ontario Osteoporosis Strategy aimed at reducing the burden of fractures, but she says there is still a gap in the health-care system.

She says there needs to be resources in thesystem so that a physician canrefer a patientto a physiotherapistor a personal trainer and have thoseservices covered by insurance.

As a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for Osteoporosis Canada, GiangregoriohelpeddeveloptheBone Fitworkshop, aimed at training physiotherapists and kinesiologists to assess and tailor exercises for people with osteoporosis.

She also helped produced avideoseries that appears onOsteoporosis Canada's websiteto teach patients how to incorporate effective and safe exercise into their lives.There'sone video for every workday for November, which is Osteoporosis Month.