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Home > Promising Practices > The Community Osteoporosis Exercise and Prevention Program

The Community Osteoporosis Exercise and Prevention Program

An Effective Practice

Description

The Community Osteoporosis Exercise and Prevention Program offers gentle weight bearing exercises free of charge to seniors and others at risk of or suffering with osteoporosis. Research has shown that exercise can help prevent osteoporosis by helping to build strong bones and slow bone loss. Classes are held twice a week at a variety of sites. The classes are led and facilitated by "peer leaders" from Capital Region RSVP, and programming is developed with health advisers From Sunnyview Hospital and Rehabilitation Center.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this program is to encourage weight bearing exercise among seniors and individuals at risk of or suffering with osteoporosis.

Results / Accomplishments

There are 70 RSVP volunteer leaders and approximately 400 class participants in 15 locations. This program has nearly 100 percent retention of RSVP volunteers and class participants. Classes, once formed, continue for years with loyal attendance and very high interest. Bone density statistics on class participants, collected by Sunnyview, indicate maintained or improved bone strength in many participants. By keeping class participants more fit and active and by preventing falls, seniors are able to live independently longer.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Capital Region RSVP, New York, and the Sunnyview Hospital and Rehabilitation Center
Primary Contact
Deborah Doolittle, Director
RSVP in the Capital Region, Husted 205
135 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12222
(518) 442-5585
rsvp@albany.edu
http://ceacw.org/
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Prevention & Safety
Health / Older Adults
Organization(s)
Capital Region RSVP, New York, and the Sunnyview Hospital and Rehabilitation Center
Source
Corporation for National & Community Service
Date of publication
11/8/2001
Location
Albany, NY
Target Audience
Older Adults

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Related Content for: The Community Osteoporosis Exercise and Prevention Program

An Effective Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success and/or promise in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures of improvement in outcome of interest (i.e. increase in voter registration, not just delivery of voter registration drive) and/ or the outcome measure is increased or improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant.