New Guidelines Support Physical Therapy's Role in Management of Osteoporosis

The recommendations are focused on the ways PTs can help to affect the decline of bone mineral density.

For individuals with osteoporosis, counteracting the decline of bone mineral density, or BMD, can play a key role in maintaining health and lowering the risk of injury. A newly adopted set of guidelines sheds light on the ways physical therapists can help to address BMD loss through exercise. The guidelines also acknowledge that challenges remain, because effecting change in BMD takes time — anywhere from six months to four years or more. The guidelines, identified by APTA Geriatrics with the support of APTA, and endorsed by the association, include exercise recommendations for premenopausal and postmenopausal women. They do not include specific recommendations for men due to a lack of sufficient evidence.

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