Osteoporosis is a condition in which the body's production of new bone material does not keep up with the loss of old material, leading to bones becoming weak and/or brittle. Osteoporosis often shows no symptoms until a bone becomes fractured. Treatment includes medications, healthy diet, and weight-bearing exercise to help prevent bone loss or strengthen already weak bones.

The SIU Bone Health Clinic is a multidisciplinary clinic, involving SIU Orthopedics, Internal Medicine (Rheumatology), and Obstetrics & Gynecology. The mission and purpose of this clinic is to provide primary and secondary fracture prevention, as well as bone fragility treatment, care, and education to at-risk patients in the central and southern Illinois area. Osteoporosis is the most common bone disease in humans and represents a significant health issue. It is a costly, and sometimes fatal, disease.

The Bone Health Clinic seeks to identify patients at risk for fragility fractures, and develop a ‘one-stop shop’ system for education and treatment. Once a patient is at risk, the patient’s bone density is scanned using SIU’s DXA (Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry) machines, and then the patient is scheduled to see one of the Bone Health Clinic providers. The physicians discuss various treatment options and develop a plan of care specific to each patient, factoring in the patient’s lifestyle habits and family history. The long term, overall goal of the Bone Health Clinic is to decrease the occurrence of fragility fractures through treatment and education.