Design: Interventional Implementation Study. Setting: Outpatient private practice physiotherapy clinic. Participants: Adults with osteoporosis or at risk of developing osteoporosis. Intervention: Using the knowledge-to-action framework to implement a group physiotherapy program, participants were enrolled in a 6 week, twice weekly, 60-minute exercise intervention that targeted whole body strength and balance. Participants provided written feedback on the program. Results: The mean age of the participants was 72 (SD: 6.03, min 60 years, max 84 years). There were 2 males, and 41 females that participated in the study. The program was successfully integrated into an outpatient physiotherapy clinic. All participants enjoyed the exercises, the social aspect, and having a booklet to support their exercise. Participants suggested that the program could be improved by having a class capacity of 9 participants per class due to space, having pictures in the booklet. Preliminary physical outcome measures showed promise, the 30-second sit-to-stand improved by a mean of 3.1 repetitions (p< 0.001). Conclusion: There was positive patient and clinician feedback on the implementation of the program within the clinic. Future iterations of the program will need to consider sustainability and accessibility of the program within the osteoporosis population. Plain Language Summary: Osteoporosis weakens bones and increases the risk of falls and fractures, so exercise programs that improve strength, balance, and posture are especially important. However, many people with osteoporosis face barriers to exercising, including cost, lack of knowledge, and fear of injury. They prefer small, supervised group programs that are easy to follow and tailored to their needs. This study tested whether a physiotherapist-led group exercise program for people with low bone density or at risk of falls could be successfully implemented in a private outpatient clinic. The six-week program ran twice a week for one hour and focused on whole-body strength, balance, and safe movement strategies. Participants also received a take-home booklet to support continued exercise. A total of 43 participants (average age 72, mostly women) participated in the study. Feedback was very positive: participants enjoyed the social aspect, the exercises, and the instructor, but suggested adding pictures to the booklet and reducing class size. Physical assessments showed improvements in several areas, including lower body strength (sit-to-stand test), grip strength, posture, and balance. The most meaningful gain was in lower body strength, which is important for everyday activities like getting up from a chair. The program proved to be safe, enjoyable, and feasible to run in a clinic setting. It improved strength, balance, and posture in just six weeks. Future work should focus on making similar programs more accessible and sustainable, testing them in different settings, and exploring whether participants keep exercising after the program ends. Keywords: implementation, osteoporosis, exercise, resistance training
Ziebart et al. (Thu,) studied this question.