Fit to a T, a free public/patient education program, presents the necessary steps to understanding why bones break suddenly and apparently without warning, and how to prevent such events which can cause people, particularly older people, to lose their independence. The incidence of these fractures in the US was declining, but in recent years this improvement has reversed. Covering bone health throughout the lifespan, the new version of Fit to a T focuses especially on those at highest risk of a fracture, and how to prevent these from occurring. The program covers the basics of bone health and how bone quality can deteriorate as people age or due to other health factors, race and ethnicity. It covers the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis, and fall prevention, a leading cause of osteoporotic fractures.
The new structure and content have been developed to align with the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research and the Fracture Prevention Initiative Coalition’s roadmap to alter the increase in fractures in the US.
Redesigned to encourage greater discussion between healthcare professional presenters and participants, there is greater focus on addressing the major concerns of participants, and maximizing retention of the educational messages. Fit to a T, which has been presented to more than 900 community groups over the last 15 years, has always primarily been designed for presentation at live community gatherings, but because of COVID-19 the USBJI is offering to set up webinar presentations, led by a local expert on bone health, so community centers, senior centers and other organizations can continue to offer this important education activity to their members while at home during this time. Some of the messages are particularly relevant at this time, as people are confined and unable to exercise and move around as freely as they would be normally. A recorded version will shortly be available as well.
The program and accompanying materials are provided at no cost, and comes with a ready-made slide set, handouts, and logistical support.
The updated program is structured around six modules:
- Module 1: Introduction and Background on Bone Health and Osteoporosis
- Module 2: People at High Risk of Fracture or Who Have Already Suffered a Fracture
- Module 3: Fall Prevention
- Module 4: Screening, Prevention, Treatment
- Module 5: Red Flags, Ethnicity and Osteoporosis
- Module 6: Take-Home Messages
To find out more, and to register interest in receiving the program, visit, www.fit2t.org, email usbji@usbji.org, or just complete and return the Registration Form.