HealthInfo Canterbury
Living with osteoporosis
What can I do?
If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, there are many actions and changes you can make to improve and maintain your health.
Have regular check-ups with your general practice team. - Make sure you get enough calcium and Vitamin D through diet and supplements if necessary.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Being underweight is not good for your bones. If you are underweight, talk to your general practice team or a dietitian for advice on gaining weight.
- Keep physically active, as this will help keep your muscles and bones strong. Weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, tennis, and lifting weights are recommended. Cycling and swimming are great exercises for your heart and muscle strength, but are not good weight-bearing exercises for your bones.
- Stop smoking and limit the amount of alcohol you drink.
- Plan how to make your home and daily activities safer, so you reduce the risk of having a fall and breaking bones. If you are over 65, ask your general practice team about a falls prevention programme. You will need to have a short assessment to check your eligibility and to make sure it is safe for you to do the exercises.
- Consider joining Osteoporosis Society Canterbury. It can provide support and information through newsletters and meetings.
- Learn about osteoporosis treatments and talk to your general practice team about which medications might be suitable for you.
- Talk to your doctor about whether or not you will need to have follow-up bone density scans.
Who can help me?
General practice team
If you need to find a GP, you can search on this map.
Osteoporosis Society Canterbury
The Osteoporosis Society Canterbury offers support and regular information through newsletters and meetings.
Falls prevention programmes
Read about Falls Prevention Service and programmes
Fracture Liaison Service
If you break a bone, the Fracture Liaison Service may contact you. The Fracture Liaison Service assesses people for osteoporosis. It also looks at what care and treatment you should have to help prevent future broken bones.
Christchurch Hospital bone services
The Christchurch Hospital Endocrinology Department performs bone density scans and sees patients with osteoporosis or other bone problems, on referral from a doctor.
Private bone density scan providers
Christchurch Radiology Group offers bone density scans for a cost of $164.
On the next page: Osteoporosis treatments
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Endorsed by Canterbury DHB bone specialist. Last reviewed October 2017. Last updated June 2019.
Review key: HIOSP-24517
