STOP FRACTURE

Our goal

The goal of the STOP FRACTURE study is to enhance patient access to Onero™ by increasing clinician and patient awareness and creating a simple referral pathway. The project aligns with the MRFF goal to provide equitable healthcare through transformative preventative research that addresses a vital and growing unmet health need in Australia.

Why is implementing highly specific exercise interventions (Onero™) so important in the treatment of Osteopenia and Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a growing and costly problem that dramatically reduces quality of life, leads to loss of independence and increases risk of death. There are some medications that improve bone mass and reduce risk of osteoporotic or minimal trauma fracture (MTF), but many patients dislike them as a result of some unwanted side effects and prefer lifestyle interventions. While not all forms of exercise increase bone mass, we have shown that high intensity resistance and impact training (HiRIT) is very effective. However, HiRIT with a frail skeleton is not without risk so supervision is required. We have shown HiRIT (known as Onero™) to be as effective in clinical practice as it is in clinical trials, but awareness of the program is low, which means many who need it are missing important therapy. We aim to reduce osteoporotic fracture by implementing pathways of referral to HiRIT therapy, thereby supporting health care providers who wish to refer, and their patients who want effective therapy.

Who is eligible to participate in STOP FRACTURE?

There are two groups of participants:

1. Clinicians working at clinical sites who manage patients at risk of MTF, and

2. Patients over the age of 45 with low bone mass can mobilise independently.

What STOP FRACTURE will do

We will be comparing referrals to Onero™ and the incidence of Minimal Trauma Fracture (MTF) occurring in the 2 years prior to our study, to the data we collect over a 2-year referral period. Data will be collected from registered hospital- and clinic-based referring doctors across NSW, QLD, SA, VIC, Tasmania and WA.

We have worked with clinicians, patients, clinical sites and HiRIT practitioners to co-design a referral pathway that fits into the existing models of care for osteoporosis which is now being implemented, monitored and evaluated at key stages of the project.

The project's goal is to provide equitable health outcomes through transformative preventative research addressing vital and growing unmet health needs in Australia.

Our Team

The STOP FRACTURE Project team is made up of world class Researchers, Clinicians in various fields; Endocrinology, Rheumatology & Orthopaedics, General Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Physiotherapists, Exercise Physiologists, Patient Advocates and Administrative staff.

Our team have been selected based on their expertise in bone health and knowledge in public health policy and implementation. They have led research programs and government initiatives, clinical units and disciplinary or consumer advocacy bodies and committees.