• 320
  elderly Singaporeans set Singapore's Book of Records for the Largest mass Otago
  exercise at Our Tampines Hub on 28 October 2018
• Otago
  Exercise is a set of leg muscle strengthening and balance retraining exercises designed
  specifically to prevent falls. Preventing falls = Preventing Fractures
• More
  than 600 crowd gathered at the event to participate in health talks, assessment
  for fall risk, physical assessment, risk assessment for Osteoporosis, exercise
  tips and more, given by doctors and nurses
• Dietitian
  and chef shared food tips for bone health, as well as demonstrated simple high
  calcium recipes at the event

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SINGAPORE -�Media OutReach�- 28 October 2018 -�Osteoporosis
Society (Singapore) held a public educational event on 28 October 2018 (Sunday)
from 1pm to 4pm at Our Tampines Hub. More than 600 participants turned up at
the event to interact with doctors and nurses about bone health, while 320 of
them who were more active managed to set the Singapore's Book of Record for the
largest mass Otago exercise.

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Event details:

Date: ������������� 28 October 2018 (Sunday)

Time:�������������� 1pm to 4pm

Venue:������������ Our Tampines Hub, Central Plaza
(opposite hawker centre at Level 1)

Address:��������� 1 Tampines Walk, Singapore 528523

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Singapore has the highest
incidence rate of hip fractures in Asia Pacific, with rates increasing up to
five times over the past 30 years.[1] 27%
of patients with hip fracture die within a year and almost 40% experience
reduced mobility.³ Despite these findings, not many people in
Singapore are aware about the seriousness of fractures, putting them at risk of
future fractures.

�

This event was organized to
raise the awareness for Osteoporosis among Singaporeans. Activities on the
event day were aligned to bone health, including the following:

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• Stage
  talks by doctors in English and Mandarin on the dangers of Osteoporosis and the
  solutions available
• Booth
  activities to assess the risk of Osteoporosis
• Booth
  activities to assess the fall risk and provide tips for fall prevention
• Dietician
  sharing on stage and at the booth about food for strong bones
• Otago
  exercise led by Physiotherapist at booth and on stage
• Record setting of the
  largest mass Otago exercise in the Singapore Book of Records
• Physical
  assessment of higher fall risk at booth
• Sampling
  of cheese at Laughing Cow booth, and milk at Regilait booth
• Cooking
  demonstration of simple high calcium recipes on stage

�

"The risk of osteoporotic
fractures CAN be reduced" said Dr. Chionh Siok Bee, president of the
Osteoporosis Society, Singapore (OSS). "Whatever age you are, you should take a
diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, and exercise regularly, to build up and
maintain your "bone bank". However, if you already have Osteoporosis diagnosed
from a DXA bone mineral density scan, or have already broken a bone, you should
consult your doctor about taking medications which can reduce your risk of
fracture by 30-70%, as calcium and Vitamin D pills, diet and exercise alone
won't be enough. We must banish the myth that breaking bones is a normal part
of ageing."

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It's
Not Just Bones that Break

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Failure
to prevent fragility fractures has serious social and economic implications for
patients, their families and society, including loss of independence and
premature confinement to aged care facilities.

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Following
a fragility fracture, many lose mobility and independence:

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• Less
  than 50% of people who survive a hip fracture will walk unaided again¹⁰
  and in many cases they will never regain their former degree of mobility.¹¹

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• A
  year after hip fracture, 60% of survivors require assistance with activities
  such as feeding, dressing or toileting, and 80% need help with activities such
  as shopping or driving.¹²

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• 10-20% of people who sustain a hip fracture
  will be admitted to a care home within the year after fracture.¹²

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A
Failure to Connect

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Despite the great extent to
which the lives of patients and their families are impacted by fractures, a
recent survey³ -- conducted in patients with previous fractures -- showed
that patients in Asia Pacific, including Singapore, have a limited
understanding of fragility fractures and osteoporosis as an underlying cause,
as well as increased risks of another fracture after the first one.

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Almost 40% of fracture patients
in Asia Pacific were unaware that they are at risk of having another fracture.[2] However,
research shows that once a patient suffers a fragility fracture, the risk of a
future fracture increases up to 10 times.¹�

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Public
Awareness Critical

�

Fight
the Fracture aims
to highlight the seriousness of fractures, its link to osteoporosis and empower
patients and their caregivers to proactively prevent fractures. As part of the
campaign, tools and resources have been developed to help patients assess their
fracture risks. Hosted on the campaign's website, these resources are intended
to encourage patients to initiate a conversation with their doctors on ways to
prevent a fracture from happening again. Further details on this and other
osteoporosis-related public events can be found on www.osteoporosis.sg.

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�

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For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow on https://twitter.com/amgen.

About the Osteoporosis Society (Singapore)

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OSS is a charity
organisation which aims to improve the awareness, prevention and management of
Osteoporosis and its attendant problem of fragility fractures.

About Fragility Fractures and Osteoporosis

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Osteoporosis affects both men and women.[3] Osteoporosis is a
condition that weakens bone over time, making them thinner, more brittle and
more likely to break.¹¹ As a result, the skeleton becomes fragile,
so that even a slight bump or fall can lead to a broken bone ? referred to as a
fragility fracture.[4]
�Fractures most often occur in the hip,
spine, arm, wrist, ribs, legs and pelvis.[5] Fractures are expensive to
treat, and disabling to the lives of those affected.¹³ Moreover,
fractures are associated with heightened risk of death.[6]

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Osteoporosis can significantly compromise quality of life,
leading to loss of independence, chronic pain, disability, emotional distress,
lost productivity and reduced social interaction.¹³ There is no cure
for osteoporosis, however steps can be taken to help prevent, slow, or halt its
progression and prevent fractures.¹⁴

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Risk factors for osteoporosis
include age, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, previous broken bones, a
family history of osteoporosis and low body weight.[7]

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Osteoporosis may be managed with anti-osteoporotic medication,
weight-bearing exercise, adequate calcium intake and vitamin D exposure
(sunlight and/or supplements are often required).¹⁴

^�

References