Osteoporosis can be a silent disease, one that causes the thinning of bones, which then causes bones to become fragile and more likely to fracture.
“It’s a disease that people often don’t realize they have until they fracture their hip, wrist, or ankle,” said Linda Linari, RN, BSN, ONC, an orthopedic nurse clinician with McLaren Northern Michigan.
Linari will share information on osteoporosis prevention and treatment during the “Building Better Bones” class. It will take place from 6 – 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6 at the John and Marnie Demmer Wellness Pavilion and Dialysis Center located at 820 Arlington Avenue in Petoskey.
The program is free and open to all individuals interested in the prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis. Bone biology, bone density testing, treatment options, nutrition instruction, exercise, and fall/fracture prevention will be discussed.
Linari, who will provide an overview of osteoporosis, will be joined by presenters Janet Havens, a registered dietitian, and physical therapist, Anne Grimmer.
“(Anne) will go over exercises you can do to strengthen muscles, which strengthens bones and increases bone density, and ways to keep yourself safe so you don’t injure your back, or slip and fall,” Linari said.
Havens will educate attendees on making proper dietary choices to increase calcium intake. “And she will go over reading labels. There’s a lot of information on food labels and it can be confusing. She will discuss how to read the labels appropriately,” Linari said.
Women and men, particularly the elderly, can both suffer from osteoporosis, she added, though it does more commonly affect women.
“It’s a disease we can prevent, or one that we can halt the progression of with appropriate medications and education,” Linari said.
Pre-registration is requested and can be arranged by calling 800.248.6777.