A Bi-Annual newsletter produced by the Alberta Chapter of Osteoporosis Canada. Fall 2011.

Welcome to our Fall 2011 newsletter! your feedback, requests for future articles and relevant stories are welcome.Please contact us at: osteoporosis Canada, alberta Chapter#104, 2526 Battleford avenue SW Calgary aB t3E 7J4phone: 403-237-7022 Fax: 403-220-1727alberta@osteoporosis.ca

This newsletter is also available via email! Let us know whether you would like an online copy by emailing us at alberta@osteoporosis.ca.

To access our newsletter via our National Website, go to www.osteoporosis.ca and select ‘OC Chapters’ from the menu on the left side of the screen. Then select ‘Alberta’.

In collaboration with the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA), Osteoporosis Canada is proud to announce the nationwide launch of Bone Fit, an evidence-based training program on exercise and osteoporosis for health and exercise professionals. The launch, supported by the CPA’s Seniors Health Division, took place July 18th, 2011 at the annual scientific Congress of the CPA.

Bone Fit was developed by Osteoporosis Canada with input from an advisory committee of academic, research and clinician experts in the field of osteoporosis, as well as health care providers and patients. This interactive workshop is designed for physiotherapists, kinesiologists, exercise physiologists and other certified professionals who have a focused practice or significant interest in adapting safe exercise for people with osteoporosis or at risk of a bone fracture.

Bone Fit focuses on a critical knowledge gap and highlights the expanding roles of physiotherapy and exercise in the management of osteoporosis. Bone Fit will now run regularly across Canada. For more information, please go to www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2011/15/c5573.html

Copn Connects!The Canadian Osteoporosis Patient Network was founded in 2004. This group felt that people living with osteoporosis needed a strong voice to provide the patient’s perspective in all areas including medical matters, research initiatives, communication, public relations, and education.

For more information on COPN, including volunteer opportunities, please call our toll-free information line at 1-800-463-6842 to talk to an information counselor, who will discuss your questions and concerns. Or, you can access COPN’s website via www.osteoporosis.ca/copn.

Osteoporosis Canada Launches ‘Bone Fit’ Program

The Bone Zone Strong Bones, Strong Alberta

Old Woman With CatRondeau: Old Woman with cat Osteoporosis (one of life’s indignities) is such a splendid name for the disease - all those little O’s, holes in the bone - where the rain gets in, rendering a crone like me defective, porous as Swiss cheese. I’m riddled at the hips and knees, round sided as parentheses since my shrunken spine has known osteoporosis - and my extremities have shrivelled into lacy filigrees, breakable as glass on stone Naked at the window ledge I drone to my sleek, supple Siamese: osteoporosis.

Marilyn L. Taylor

public Forum on Bone Health march 2011In March of this year a successful public forum was held by the Alberta Chapter to discuss bone health. Public forums are a invaluable medium for educating the public about Osteoporosis and options for those who live with the disease. Watch for future announcements in our newsletter and website or, if you would like to be on our email distribution list for information, contact us.

What can be said about YOGA and bones? Well, according to Kristen Ingram, a certified yoga instructor, lots of good stuff. Kristen instructed a class for the Osteoporosis Canada Support Group on March 15, 2011.

When it comes to osteoporosis and practicing yoga, Kristen stressed that slow movement is vital and twisting movements done with caution. That means holding our poses for 7 to 10 good breaths and twisting the entire body slowly and together. Avoid fast paced classes and those aimed at weight loss – they do not offer the best benefit for those dealing with osteoporosis issues. However, if we build a good yoga practice into our regular routine, we can expect to maintain and build bone mass, even when practiced from a seated position. Other benefits of yoga include increased strength, stamina, and balance. The best practices for balance involve finding a point of focus for the eye, practicing poses with long, smooth breaths, and using your ability to laugh when one falls out of a pose – less strain to the body when you fall out this way. Through poses we are also able to increase blood flow and strengthening muscles. Managing difficult pain may even become easier when we become masters of meditation through breath work and building the body/mind connection. Alternating breathing from right to left nostril can help balance the mind, body, and spirit. Yoga is especially good for the spine, hips, and all our major joints.

Good yoga practice needs to start with good props. Kristen stressed the importance of a non-slip mat to prevent injury and falls. Learning how to get down to the floor and back up safely is also very important. Other props include:

- 2 blocks (or hard-covered books) to heighten the floor and ease strain to the body

- A solid and sturdy chair to assist with poses and getting up and down from the mat

- A strap (or 2 men’s ties tied together) to help maximize stretches and holds

- Tennis or lacrosse balls to use for massage and loosing up muscles

- A towel or pillow – which is great for sitting or kneeling on especially when the surface causes pain.

In any yoga position, sharp pain is NEVER good. If such pain occurs, stop the movement immediately. When you feel a dull, achy sensation then you are doing the pose correctly. This is a good sensation and indicates that you are stretching the muscle. Always listen to your body and allow yoga to teach you how to respect your body.

Although yoga can be practiced at home alone, Kristen stressed starting with a class to learn the poses correctly. Once you know what your body can do, you can take this knowledge home and practice in solitude. Some of the best yoga poses for people with osteoporosis include the Warrior poses, especially Warrior 1. The Goddess pose, high lunges, Angel pose, standing knee lift, and Trikonasana are also recommended. Many other yoga poses can be modified for seniors and the needs of each body. Namaste.

no BonES aBout it – Good yoGa praCtiCE iS BEnEFiCial

Written by Lorell Thoms - Educator, OC Alberta (403) 237-7022 / lthoms@osteoporosis.ca For more information on yoga, call or email Kristen ingram at (403) 470-7049 or keingram@telus.net.

From Left to Right – Loretta Brown, Chair, Pervin Irani, Volunteer, Bev Swan, Volunteer, Lorell Thoms (front), Educator

talking about BonesWould your group or organization like a guest speaker on the topic of osteoporosis? let our alberta Chapter Educator provide your group with an informative presentation. For more information or to book a presentation, please call 403-237-7022.

talK & tEathe alberta Chapter will be presenting ‘talK & tEa’ at Southcentre mall. osteoporosis staff will be on site to give short presentations, distribute information and answer any questions you may have.

dates: September 7, october 5 november 2, 2011.time: 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.location: the Southcentre mall Community room (near lenscrafters).

lacombe, albertaBEForE BonES BrEaKall you need to Know about osteoporosisan osteoporosis Canada representative will present information about bone health and 2010 Clinical practice Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of osteoporosis in Canadanews regarding a local support group for lacombe will follow october 6, 2011 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. lacombe memorial Centre County room attendance and refreshments are free

With our GratitudeThe Alberta Chapter would like to acknowledge and thank the following resource agencies/corporations for their generous donations:

Alberta Community Spirit Program

United Way of Alberta

ATCO Electric EPIC Program

Yoplait/Ultima Foods

Janet Horbacio Photography

HatS oFF to you!

the aB Chapter Stadiometer – How do you measure up?A warning sign for Osteoporosis is height loss. It is normal for individuals to lose 1.5” in height over their entire lifetime. People with vertebral fractures can lose more than 4”! Height loss affects quality of life – including disability, trouble with breathing, digestion and balance.

A stadiometer is a piece of medical equipment used for measuring height. It is usually constructed out of a ruler and a sliding horizontal headpiece which is adjusted to rest on the top of the head.

The Alberta Chapter purchased a stadiometer for use at our display booth at health fairs.

osteoporosis Canada patient Bill of rightsWith more than a year in the making and extensive consultation with members of the Canadian Osteoporosis Patient Network (COPN), Osteoporosis Canada is proud to present the Osteoporosis Canada Patient Bill of Rights. The Patient Bill of Rights is an important advocacy tool for our organization, and reflects putting the vision and mission of Osteoporosis Canada into action. We are proud of this accomplishment and thank all those who have worked so hard in shaping this important document. A copy of the document is available through our website, www.osteoporosis.ca.

Shown are Loretta Brown, our Chapter Chair, and Lorell Thoms, our Educator, presenting the Patient Bill of Rights

This photo shows two of our volunteers, Carol Sinclair and Bev Swan, measuring an interested visitor. The item proved popular-people were lined up to be measured!

Upcoming ActivitiesYou can also keep up to date on news and events by accessing our website, www.osteoporosis.ca. To access Alberta Chapter information, click on ‘OC Chapters’ from the menu on the left side of the screen. Then select ‘Alberta’.

Edmonton Support Group mEEtinGSThe Edmonton Branch support group is having one meeting this fall instead of monthly meetings as in previous years. Dr. Brian Wirzba, Internist with a special interest in Osteoporosis, will be presenting ‘Osteoporosis: What You Should Know’. The meeting will be held Wednesday, November 16, 2011 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The location for this meeting has also changed from previous years. The meeting will be held at the Central Lions Seniors Recreation Centre, 11113 – 113 Street Edmonton, Alberta, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more information contact Marg at 780-434-6054 or Annabel at 780-436-8150.

CalGary Support Group mEEtinGSThe Calgary Osteoporosis Support Group meets monthly from September-April (excluding December). See below for a list of dates. Meetings are held at the Confederation Park Seniors Centre, 2212 – 13th Street NW Calgary from 7-9 PM. Contacts: The Alberta Chapter office at 403-237-7022. Meetings are open to all, no registration is required and there is no admission fee. Free parking available. The meetings are subject to cancellation in event of severe weather.

The Osteoporosis Centre (Calgary) The Osteoporosis Centre is a specialized clinic which was developed to promote bone health education; as well as the prevention, diagnosis and appropriate treatment of osteoporosis and other bone disorders. The Centre will be moving soon to a new location. Please contact the Osteoporosis Canada, Alberta Chapter office at 403-237-7022 if you need a location/phone number update after September 24, 2010.

Current clinic staff includes 5 doctors specializing in bone diseases, a dietitian, pharmacist, and nurse. A team approach is used to give our patients the most up-to-date information on their bone status; nutrition and lifestyle measures to promote healthy bones; and available treatment options.

A medical referral is necessary for consultation with a doctor in the Centre. However, the nurse, dietitian, and pharmacist are available by telephone if you have questions or concerns about your bones.

A major role of the Osteoporosis Centre is education about bone health. Our “Bone Health and Osteoporosis” classes are available to anyone in the community, free of charge. Classes are taught by the clinic staff, and are available at various times and locations throughout the city.

www.osteoporosis.ca

tuesday, September 20, 2011 Osteoporosis, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicines, Presented by Dr. Cheng, Canadian Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

tuesday, october 18, 2011 Arthritis 101 and Osteoporosis, Presented by the Arthritis Society

tuesday, november 15, 2011, Calcium, Vitamin D and Other Nutritional Treats, Presented by Chelsey Armstrong, BSc, Registered Dietician with Simply For Life.

tuesday, January 17, 2012, Diet and calcium availability, Presented by retired dietician Darlene Weger

tuesday, February 21, 2012, Exercise, Presented by TBA

march 20, 2012, Health and Lifestyle Coaching, Presented by Liz Kunzi and Shelly Heath

tuesday, april 17, 2012, Demo and Talk - The Benefits of Tai Chi, Presented by the Taoist Tai Chi Society

Health Fair Display where Pedometers (in pyramid shape) were available to participants to encourage healthy walking