Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/128836
Osteofit leader Debbie Cheong (right) makes bone-building exercise fun for women like Ellen Pye. Bones, Balance & Confidence T en years ago, Ellen Pye was wracked with joint pain and dangerously prone to trips and falls. Diagnosed with osteoporosis of the hip and spine, the 74-year-old struggled daily with pain, disability and diminished quality of life. Initially, Pye's doctor put her on medication, but it wasn't long before she discontinued the drug: "I just didn't feel good on it." It was then she discovered Osteofit, a communitybased program run by BC Women's Hospital. For Pye, the program proved life-changing. By Michelle Hopkins PHOTOGRAPHY BY CLAUDETTE CARRACEDO Osteofit is helping women and men with osteoporosis live healthier, happier and more independent lives. Bones and balance Osteoporosis – a weakening of bones that can make them vulnerable to fractures – affects one in four women over age 50. To help address this problem BC Women's Hospital created Osteofit, a program designed to help individuals like Pye enjoy healthier lives when at-risk for or living with osteoporosis. Osteofit, under the leadership of awardwinning Provincial Coordinator Debbie Cheong, educates women and men on how to live a bone-healthy lifestyle that includes good nutrition, regular exercise and sometimes medication. At the heart of the program are falls prevention exercises that improve balance, coordi- nation and agility, while strengthening bones and improving posture. All exercises are based on feedback from doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and dietitians. Fun and confidence "Debbie makes exercise so fun and easy that I've been going twice a week for years," says Pye, whose enthusiasm is echoed by many other Osteofit participants. "I've lost weight, I don't fall or trip anymore, and I'm fitter and feeling a lot better about myself," adds Pye. In addition to stronger bones and better balance, Osteofit builds something just as important – confidence. "Many people with osteoporosis are so afraid of a fracture that they avoid crowds," says Cheong. "Many end up housebound and depressed. After they begin Osteofit, many tell me they experience renewed independence. "Osteofit is much more than an exercise class. It gives people their lives back." Osteofit is available in communities around BC. For more information, visit www.osteofit.org. SPRING 2013 WOMEN'S 5 BCW-Spring 2013.indd 5 13-04-30 11:51 AM