Health Promotion Model; its Effect on Improving Physical Activity among post-Menopausal Women with Osteoporosis

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a global health problem, and its prevalence is rapidly increasing worldwide. The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) estimates that 200 million women suffer from osteoporosis around the world, affecting more than75 million people in Europe, Japan, Australia and North America. In Egypt, 53.9% of postmenopausal women have osteopenia while 28.4% have osteoporosis Elsabagh et al., (2015). Moreover, this disease and fractures secondary to it are an essential reason of mortality and morbidity. About 1.6 million hip fractures occur every year worldwide; the incidence is set to increase to 6.3 million by 2050 (IOF, 2014). Increasing knowledge, correcting health beliefs and promoting behaviors towards preventing and treating osteoporosis are effective measures for building and maintaining strong bone throughout ones’ life-span. Therefore, exercise practice becomes a crucial intervention, by increasing the confidence of the woman to independently perform her tasks. In addition to a reduction in bone loss, the regular practice of exercise by women with osteoporosis has, as positive effects, overall health, socialization, self-esteem, mood and body awareness improvement; and reduction of depression, anxiety and fear of falls (Chan et al., 2018).