Promoting exercise in postmenopausal women to decrease osteoporotic fracture risk: The role of nurse practitioners

Due to the aging Canadian population, the disease of osteoporosis is becoming increasingly prevalent. Postmenopausal women in particular are at heightened risk for osteoporosis due to their depleting estrogen levels and subsequent declines in bone density. Exercise is recognized as a key preventative measure for osteoporosis progression in this at-risk population. However, there is limited information available to provide insight into how health care providers can promote exercise behaviours which help to maintain the muscle strength and bone health of postmenopausal women and decrease the likelihood of osteoporosis related fractures. Nurse practitioners, as primary care providers, are in an ideal position to provide health promotion for the prevention of osteoporosis in their postmenopausal patients. An integrative literature review was conducted to identify which strategies nurse practitioners within the primary care setting can use to promote exercise behaviours in postmenopausal women in order to reduce their future osteoporotic fracture risk.