Introduction
Most people assume that a broken bone is an inconvenience. A few weeks in a cast, some physiotherapy, and life resumes as normal. For the millions of Australians living with low bone density or osteoporosis, however, a fracture can be a life-altering, and sometimes life-ending event.
This is not a scare tactic, but proven through evidence-based research. And it is exactly why understanding your bone health before a fracture occurs is one of the most important steps you can take for your long-term health.
The Real Statistics Behind Fragility Fractures
Research presented by Dr. Lora Giangregorio, Tier One Canada Research Chair in Bone Health and Exercise Science at the University of Waterloo, highlights the genuine severity of fragility fractures:
Hip fractures: Up to 25% of people who sustain a hip fracture will die as a direct result. Hip fractures are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in older adults.
Spine (vertebral) fractures: 20% of people who have a vertebral fracture will experience another one within 12 months. These fractures cause chronic and debilitating pain.
The psychological burden: After a spine fracture, patients are often told to avoid lifting and limit movement, creating significant fear and loss of independence.
What Is a Fragility Fracture?
A fragility fracture is defined as a fracture that occurs from a force that would not normally break a healthy bone. Common examples include:
- Falling from a standing height (not from stairs or a height)
- Leaning over a couch to reach a remote control and fracturing a rib
- Bending forward to tie shoelaces and fracturing a vertebra
These scenarios may sound drastic, but they are frequently observed in clinical practice. They occur because when bone mineral density (BMD) falls below a critical threshold, everyday loads can exceed bone strength
Who Is at Highest Risk?
Certain factors independently increase fracture risk, even beyond what bone mineral density
alone might suggest:
- Increasing age (an independent risk factor separate from BMD)
- Low body mass index (BMI)
- Long-term oral corticosteroid (glucocorticoid) use
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Type 2 diabetes
- High alcohol intake (more than three standard drinks per day)
- Smoking
- Secondary causes of bone loss: celiac disease, kidney disease, cancer treatments, spinal cord injury
Osteoporosis is also not restricted to older women. Men, younger adults, competitive athletes with relative energy deficiency, and people with chronic conditions can all develop osteoporosis at a much earlier age than is commonly expected.
Osteoporosis
Bone mass follows a predictable trajectory: it builds during childhood and adolescence, peaks in early adulthood, plateaus briefly, and then begins to decline from midlife, accelerating significantly after menopause in women. Poor nutrition, inadequate physical activity, and certain medical conditions during the growth years can compromise peak bone mass, leaving less reserve for the inevitable age-related losses that follow.
Book a DEXA Scan in Perth
If you are over 50, have known risk factors for bone loss, or have been advised by your GP to investigate your bone health, a DEXA scan is the most clinically reliable way to assess your current bone health and plan appropriate intervention.
Book your bone density scan at Perth DEXA Scan — visit perthdexascan.com.au or call us to speak with our team.
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