Exercise Physiology
for Osteoporosis
Bone responds to load. Safe, progressive resistance and impact exercise builds bone mineral density, reduces fracture risk and prevents the falls that cause the most serious injuries in osteoporosis. We prescribe both, calibrated to your DXA results, your fracture history and your life.
Takes 60 seconds · No referral needed to start · Medicare rebates available
Understanding Your DXA Results
What your T-score means and why exercise matters at every level
Bone mineral density is measured by a DXA scan and reported as a T-score. Your T-score tells us how your bone density compares to a healthy young adult. Exercise is appropriate and beneficial at every level. The prescription changes, but the principle does not.
Exercise is the most important investment you can make in your future bone health. Peak bone mass is largely set by your mid-30s. The goal now is maintenance and prevention.
You have reduced bone density but have not yet reached the threshold for osteoporosis. This is the ideal time to intervene with progressive loading. Exercise at this stage can halt or reverse the decline.
Exercise remains one of the most effective interventions available alongside medication. The prescription requires more care around fracture risk, but the evidence for bone loading in osteoporosis is strong.
What We Do
Two goals, one integrated program
Osteoporosis management through exercise has two distinct goals that reinforce each other. Loading the skeleton to build or maintain bone mineral density, and building the strength, balance and reaction time that prevents the falls that cause fractures. We address both in every program.
Progressive resistance trainingHigh-load, low-repetition resistance exercise targeting the sites most vulnerable to osteoporotic fracture including spine, hip and wrist. Bone responds to mechanical load by laying down new tissue.
Impact and weight-bearing exerciseGround reaction forces from appropriate impact exercise including hopping, stepping and specific landing tasks provide a powerful osteogenic stimulus that resistance training alone does not fully replicate.
Balance and falls prevention trainingThe majority of osteoporotic fractures result from falls. We address the neuromuscular factors that predict falls risk including single-leg stability, reaction time, gait mechanics and ankle strength.
Postural correctionHyperkyphosis, the forward rounding of the spine common in osteoporosis, increases fracture risk and impairs breathing. We target the muscles that maintain upright posture throughout the spine.
Safe exercise educationWe teach you which movements to avoid, which are safe, and why. Specific spinal flexion patterns carry elevated fracture risk in osteoporosis. Understanding this changes how you move every day, not just during sessions.
Home safety and activity guidancePractical guidance on reducing falls risk in your home environment and adapting daily activities to protect your skeleton without restricting your life.
Medication coordinationIf you are on bone-active medications including bisphosphonates, denosumab or teriparatide, we design your program to work alongside your medication for maximum benefit.
Reports to your GP and endocrinologistWritten clinical reports after every review keep your prescribing clinician informed and your care plan coordinated.
How We Exercise
The three pillars of bone-building exercise
Not all exercise builds bone. The type, load and site-specificity of exercise determine whether it produces a meaningful osteogenic response. We prescribe all three pillars, adjusted to your fracture risk and current capacity.
Primary stimulus for bone mineral density
High-load resistance exercise, significantly heavier than most people expect, is the most reliable way to stimulate bone formation at the sites that matter most. We target the hip, spine and wrist specifically.
Programs are progressed systematically over months. The bone response to load builds gradually and requires consistent, progressive stimulus to accumulate.
Osteogenic stimulus via ground reaction forces
Bone responds to the ground reaction forces generated during impact exercise. We use specific hopping, stepping and jumping tasks calibrated to your fracture risk level, from low-impact stepping through to higher-force tasks as capacity allows.
This is always prescribed conservatively and progressed slowly in patients with elevated fracture risk.
Fracture prevention through falls reduction
Single-leg stability, tandem standing, reaction tasks and progressive balance challenges train the neuromuscular system to prevent falls before they happen. This is especially important for patients who have already had a fracture.
We also address gait mechanics and footwear, both of which significantly affect falls risk in daily life.
Movements to approach with caution in osteoporosis
Certain movements carry elevated vertebral fracture risk in patients with osteoporosis and should be approached carefully or avoided depending on your T-score and fracture history. These include end-range spinal flexion under load, high-impact activities beyond your current tolerance, and certain yoga and Pilates movements that involve sustained spinal flexion.
We will give you clear, specific guidance on what to modify in your exercise life outside of our sessions. This is one of the most practically valuable parts of our osteoporosis program.
Who We See
From prevention through to post-fracture rehabilitation
We work with patients at every stage of bone health, from those wanting to protect their bones before problems develop, to those managing established osteoporosis or recovering from a fracture.
Your Program
What to expect from start to finish
Our osteoporosis programs are individually designed around your DXA results, your fracture history and your current functional capacity. We do not use generic bone health programs.
Initial assessment
We review your DXA results and T-scores, fracture history, current medications, calcium and vitamin D status, falls history, and functional capacity. We conduct a balance assessment, posture assessment and strength screening. Bring your most recent DXA report to your first appointment if you have one.
Program design
We design a program incorporating progressive resistance training, appropriate impact exercise and balance work, calibrated specifically to your fracture risk. We explain which exercises to avoid in your daily life and why, and provide education on safe movement patterns for everyday activities.
Supervised sessions and progression
We supervise your sessions and systematically progress the load over time. Bone adaptation is slow and requires consistent, progressive stimulus. We track your training loads and ensure the progression is meaningful enough to produce a bone response while remaining safe.
Regular reviews with reports to your GP
We conduct formal reviews and send written reports to your GP and endocrinologist. If you have a follow-up DXA scan, we review the results with you and adjust your program accordingly. Bone density changes are slow and we set realistic expectations and measure progress against your baseline.
Funding and Rebates
Multiple ways to fund your osteoporosis program
Osteoporosis qualifies as a chronic condition under Medicare's Chronic Disease Management pathway. Multiple funding options are available depending on your circumstances.
Medicare CDM Plan
Up to 5 subsidised allied health sessions per calendar year with an active Chronic Disease Management plan from your GP.
Private Health Insurance
Most extras policies cover Exercise Physiology. Check your policy for your annual limit and rebate amount.
DVA Gold and White Card
DVA Gold Card holders have all clinically necessary EP sessions covered with no gap fee.
My Aged Care
Support at Home and CHSP packages can fund Exercise Physiology for eligible older Australians with osteoporosis.
NDIS
Exercise Physiology funded under Improved Health and Wellbeing for eligible self-managed and plan-managed participants.
Private
No referral needed. Book directly and pay privately. No GP visit required to get started.
Common Questions
Osteoporosis program FAQs
Is resistance training safe if I already have osteoporosis?
Yes, when prescribed by a clinician who understands the condition. The evidence for progressive resistance training in established osteoporosis is strong. The key is appropriate load selection, avoiding high-risk movements, and progressing conservatively. We have extensive experience working with patients across the full spectrum of bone density, including those with severe osteoporosis and previous fractures.
I have not had a DXA scan yet. Can I still start?
Yes. We can begin your assessment and program without DXA results, using your clinical history, risk factors and functional testing to guide the prescription. We will recommend you discuss a DXA scan with your GP if you do not have recent results, as the T-score is useful for calibrating your program.
I am on bisphosphonates or other bone medications. Does exercise still help?
Yes, and the combination of medication and exercise is more effective than either alone. Bone-active medications slow resorption, while exercise stimulates new bone formation. They work through different mechanisms and complement each other. We design your program to work alongside your medication regime.
I have had a vertebral fracture. Is exercise still safe?
Yes, with careful prescription. Post-fracture rehabilitation is one of the most important interventions you can make. We work conservatively around the fracture site, avoid positions that increase risk of further fracture, and focus on building the strength and balance that protects you going forward. We will also review your daily activities and identify movements to modify.
Do I need a referral to start?
No. You can book directly and be seen privately without a referral. If you have a Medicare Chronic Disease Management plan from your GP that includes Exercise Physiology, bring it to your first appointment and we will process your $61.80 rebate on the spot.
Can I attend via telehealth?
Telehealth works well for review appointments, education sessions and program updates. The initial assessment benefits significantly from in-person attendance so we can conduct your balance and posture assessment properly. We will advise you on the best option for your situation at the time of booking.
Ready to build stronger bones and reduce your fracture risk?
Book your first appointment online or call us. Bring your most recent DXA results if you have them. No referral needed to start.
Start Your Plan (Book Your First Appointment)Takes 60 seconds · No referral needed · Medicare rebates available