Congratulations to Associate Professor of Kinesiology Lora Giangregorio, who received the 2015 Bloomberg Manulife Prize for the Promotion of Active Health in February, 2016. The award recognizes Lora’s pioneering research on the effect of exercise on those living with osteoporosis.
Lora worked with an international team to develop exercise and physical activity recommendations for people with osteoporosis. A key recommendation is that strength and balance training are just as important as aerobic physical activity, and can mitigate the risk of falls — still the number-one cause of fractures in this population.
In partnership with Osteoporosis Canada, Lora has developed a comprehensive set of physical activity resources for patients and health care providers. They were launched as part of the Too Fit To Fracture initiative in November 2015, and include a video series, a one-page educational tool for physicians to use with patients, and a companion booklet.
Lora also worked with Osteoporosis Canada to develop Bone Fit, a workshop for exercise instructors, physiotherapists and kinesiologists on assessing and prescribing exercise for people with osteoporosis.
The Bloomberg Manulife Prize for the Promotion of Active Health is presented by McGill University to a researcher whose work has significant impact on the health and well-being of people in North America. The $50,000 prize is put toward future research.
