UNBREAKABLE – The OC Podcast : Bone Health + Osteoporosis

A fear of falling can develop after a stressful life event or a fall that has resulted in a fracture. Falling from standing height – even when falling on concrete or ice – shouldn’t result in a broken bone – but if it does – that can be an indicator of osteoporosis. On this episode, Dr. Jenna Gibb assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at McGill University discusses what can cause a fall, what is the standard definition of a fall, if you do fall, what you should do and more.

As we age, our needs change and so do our appetites and the type of foods we prefer. This can make it more difficult to get the bone-building nutrients we need. For older adults and seniors, it’s important to continue good nutritional habits while also recognizing changing needs. Pr. Genevieve Mailhot, Registered Dietitian, Full Professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of Montreal and a researcher at the CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center discusses eating habits as we age, what affects our appetites and how to make sure individuals, especially older adults and seniors get the bone building nutrients needed.

Many people think of osteoporosis as a condition you develop later in life. That’s not always the case and being aware of the factors associated with the disease can help you reduce your risk. In this episode, Dr. Rowena Ridout an endocrinologist at Toronto Western Hospital, staff physician in the UHN Osteoporosis Program and Chair of Osteoporosis Canada’s Scientific Advisory Council discusses why women and men under 50 can develop osteoporosis, what are the signs and symptoms and how other conditions, medications and treatments can affect your bone health.

If you have just had a fracture, you may think you have to stop being active. But did you know that moving and exercising safely is important for recovery and managing your future bone health? Dr. Caitlin McArthur is a physiotherapist and an Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University. She does research on improving the effectiveness of and access to rehabilitation for people living with chronic health conditions. On this episode, Dr. McArthur discusses how you should proceed with an exercise plan after a fracture, the type of exercises that are beneficial for bone health and in managing osteoporosis, who you should consult about staying active and more.

Spinal cord injuries are always concerning, more complex than they seem and can also be connected to osteoporosis. Dr. Cathy Craven is the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute/ University of Toronto Chair in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Rehabilitation, Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto, Medical Director of the Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program and Senior Scientist at KITE Research Institute within University Health Network. On this episode, Dr. Craven discusses what a spinal cord injury is, if having a spinal cord injury increases your likelihood of getting osteoporosis, how to preserve your bone mass after a spinal cord injury and more.

The terms osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are often mistakenly used interchangeably as they are two separate diagnoses. Dr. Heather McDonald-Blumer, a rheumatologist is a member of the Division of Rheumatology at Mt. Sinai Hospital/University Health Network. Her clinical interests include osteoporosis and inflammatory joint disease. She is the associate director of the Osteoporosis Program at UHN and is a member of Osteoporosis Canada’s Scientific Advisory Committee. On this episode, Dr. McDonald-Blumer discusses each condition, what makes them similar, how you can manage both conditions and more.

Menopause affects at least half the population and is often not discussed openly leading to many myths and misconceptions. As a result, too many women enter menopause uninformed and unprepared. Dr. Nese Yuksel is a full Professor with the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the College of Health Sciences at the University of Alberta. Additionally, she holds a cross-appointment at the Multidisciplinary Bone Health Clinic at the University of Alberta Hospital. She has been practicing in the areas of menopause and osteoporosis for over 20 years and is a NAMS Certified Menopause Practitioner. In this episode, Dr. Yuksel discusses the stages of menopause, how menopause impacts women’s health including bone health, and more.

Dr. Andrea Josse received her doctoral degree in exercise physiology and nutrition from the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University and then completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at The University of Toronto. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science, Faculty of Health, York University. In this podcast, Dr. Josse as a nutritional scientist and exercise physiologist, will discuss the impact of dieting on bone health and encourages making sustainable choices over the long term for positive health outcomes.

Shelly Hagen is a Registered Dietitian and is a member of Osteoporosis Canada’s Scientific Advisory Council (SAC). She currently works as an Educator in the Women’s Wellness Program at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta facilitating menopause and osteoporosis group education sessions, and working one-on-one with patients to make well informed health decisions concerning menopause and osteoporosis management.  In this podcast Shelly discusses the connection between Celiac Disease and Osteoporosis and how to manage one’s bone health when diagnosed with this autoimmune disease.

Dr. Claudia Gagnon is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at Université Laval and a clinician-researcher scholar of the Fonds de recherche en santé du Québec. She is also active as a member of the Osteoporosis Canada (OC) Scientific Advisory Council. Dr. Gagnon’s research focuses on the impact of obesity, diabetes and their treatments (in particular bariatric surgery) on bone health. In this podcast she discusses why both men and women with diabetes are at higher risk for low bone density and for osteoporotic fractures.

Dr. Debra Butt is an Associate Professor and Clinician Scientist in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. She is also active as a member of the Osteoporosis Canada (OC) Scientific Advisory Council and the OC Clinical Practice Guidelines Working Group for Exercise in Individuals at Risk of Fracture. In this podcast she discusses why people fracture as a result of osteoporosis, what to expect after a break and how to avoid future broken bones.

Dr. Susan Whiting is one of Canada’s leading nutrition scholars and an internationally recognized authority on vitamin D and calcium supplementation. A Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Nutrition at the University of Saskatchewan and a member of Osteoporosis Canada’s Scientific Advisory Council, Dr. Whiting’s research looks at the dietary influences on bone health in children and adults. In this podcast she speaks to the importance of calcium and bone health.

After having eight fractures Larry Funnell was diagnosed at the age of 48. He was shocked when his doctor told him he had osteoporosis because like many others, he didn’t think the disease affected men. Larry shares his story to raise awareness and educate men on their risk of osteoporosis.

Professor Wendy Ward is a kinesiology and health sciences professor at Brock University, a Canada Research Chair in bone and muscle development and a member of Osteoporosis Canada’s Scientific Advisory Council. Professor Ward speaks about Vitamin D which is sometimes called the “sunshine vitamin” and is critical to your overall wellness including having a big impact on your bone health.

Visiting an osteoporosis clinic for the first time can seem intimidating, especially if you don’t know what to expect. Dr. Lianne Tile, a general internist, is the medical director of the University Health Network Osteoporosis Clinic and a member of Osteoporosis Canada’s Scientific Advisory Council. Dr. Tile shares what a patient can expect and how to prepare for their first visit to an osteoporosis clinic.

When Christine Thomas was only 42 years old, she bent down to pick up her newborn daughter – fracturing her spine. That fracture led to the discovery that Christine had been living with undetected osteoporosis. Since then, she has become an author, advocate, volunteer and speaker who shares her osteoporosis story to help others.