National Osteoporosis Foundation Releases 'Health Professional's Guide to Rehabilitation of the Patient with Osteoporosis'

8/21/2003

From: Lynn Chard-Petrinjak of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 202-223-2226; web: http://www.nof.org

WASHINGTON, Aug. 21 -- A diverse panel of medical and allied health professionals was convened by the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) to develop the first "Health Professional's Guide to Rehabilitation of the Patient with Osteoporosis". The launch of this publication signals the importance of providing supportive therapy for patients with osteoporosis.

"Osteoporosis can have a devastating effect on health, independence and quality of life," said Judith A. Cranford, Executive Director, NOF. This guide is intended to help physicians and other health care professionals enhance the quality of life following fracture.

Osteoporosis and low bone mass are a major public health threat for almost 44 million U.S. women and men aged 50 and older. It causes 1.5 million fractures of the hip, spine or distal forearm. Yet, as many as 95 percent of adults who break a bone are not evaluated for osteoporosis.

The "Health Professional's Guide to Rehabilitation of the Patient with Osteoporosis" summarizes the latest scientific research on the most therapeutic exercise programs, provides guidance for safe movement, fall prevention activities, and psychosocial consequences, medical and economic impact and medications for people concerned with both preventing and treating osteoporosis.

"Rehabilitation enhances the quality of people's lives immeasurably and has a critical role in a patient's healing following a fracture. Fortunately, the 'Rehabilitation Guide' extends the continuum of care for osteoporosis patients, which begins with prevention activities and progresses with an accurate diagnosis, treatment and, finally, rehabilitation," said Francis J. Bonner, Jr., MD, NOF Trustee and lead author of the "Health Professional's Guide to Rehabilitation of the Patient with Osteoporosis." Dr. Bonner is Medical Director and CEO of the Rehabilitation Hospital of South Jersey, in Vineland, New Jersey.

In collaboration with NOF, medical representatives from the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American College of Radiology, the American Geriatrics Society, the American Medical Association, the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research and the International Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation produced both the "Health Professional's Guide to Rehabilitation of the Patient with Osteoporosis" and a smaller pocket guide version.

In addition, NOF is releasing a revised "Physician's Guide to Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis," which serves as a basic reference on the most current prevention, diagnosis and treatment information. For information about ordering, please call 1-877-868-4520. Online orders are available at http://www.nof.org.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation is the leading nonprofit, voluntary health organization dedicated to promoting lifelong bone health in order to reduce the widespread prevalence of osteoporosis and associated fractures, while working to find a cure for the disease through programs of research, education and advocacy.