Lora Giangregorio

Research interests

The aim of our research team is to reduce the burden of osteoporotic fractures. We use medical imaging technologies to explore bone and muscle responses to activity or neurologic impairment, and evaluate new methods for image analysis. We conduct epidemiologic studies to inform fracture risk assessment algorithms. We conduct clinical trials to investigate the effects of exercise interventions for reducing fracture risk in high risk individuals. We lead knowledge dissemination and translation activities, and implementation studies to move research on exercise for older adults into practice. For example, our research team has worked with Osteoporosis Canada to develop BoneFit, a two-day workshop for physiotherapists and kinesiologists on appropriate assessment and exercise prescription for individuals with osteoporosis. We also led the development of the Too Fit To Fracture Exercise and Physical Activity Recommendations for Individuals with Osteoporosis.

Graduate supervision and student opportunities

• Research volunteer
• Undergraduate thesis
• MSc thesis
• Coursework interns
• PhD thesis
• Postdoctoral trainee

Graduate studies application details

Teaching, expertise, tools and technologies

• Clinical exercise physiology
• Clinical trials and knowledge translation
• Physical activity and aging
• Osteoporosis and bone health

Courses

KIN 429: Bone and Joint Health

KIN 414: Cases in Clinical Exercise Physiology

Education

PhD, McMaster University

Awards and honours 

Bloomberg Manulife Prize for the Promotion of the Arts of Active Health

CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research) New Investigator Award

Lindy Fraser Award 2016

Selected publications

Please see Google Scholar for full list of publications

The Effects of Home Exercise in Older Women With Vertebral Fractures: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Gibbs JC, McArthur C, Wark JD, Thabane L, Scherer SC, Prasad S, Papaioannou A, Mittmann N, Laprade J, Kim S, Khan A, Kendler DL, Hill KD, Cheung AM, Bleakney R, Ashe MC, Adachi JD, Giangregorio LM.

Phys Ther. 2020 Jan 3. pii: pzz188. doi: 10.1093/ptj/pzz188. [Epub ahead of print]

PMID: 31899499

Patient engagement in clinical guidelines development: input from > 1000 members of the Canadian Osteoporosis Patient Network.

Morin SN, Djekic-Ivankovic M, Funnell L, Giangregorio L, Rodrigues IB, Ridout R, Feldman S, Kim S, McDonald-Blumer H, Kline G, Ward WE, Santesso N, Leslie WD.

Osteoporos Int. 2019 Dec 14. doi: 10.1007/s00198-019-05248-4. [Epub ahead of print]

PMID: 31838552

Physical activity and skeletal health in adults.

Cauley JA, Giangregorio L.

Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2020 Feb;8(2):150-162. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(19)30351-1. Epub 2019 Nov 20. Review.

PMID: 31759956

The association between trunk muscle endurance, balance and falls self-efficacy in women with osteoporotic vertebral fractures: an exploratory analysis from a pilot randomized controlled trial.

McArthur C, Gibbs JC, Ashe MC, Cheung AM, Hill KD, Kendler DL, Khan A, Prasad S, Thabane L, Wark JD, Giangregorio LM.

Disabil Rehabil. 2019 Dec 1:1-7. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1696418. [Epub ahead of print]

PMID: 31786954

Exercise for improving outcomes after osteoporotic vertebral fracture.

Gibbs JC, MacIntyre NJ, Ponzano M, Templeton JA, Thabane L, Papaioannou A, Giangregorio LM.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019 Jul 5;7:CD008618. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008618.pub3.

PMID: 31273764

Measuring the Implementation of Lifestyle-Integrated Functional Exercise in Primary Care for Older Adults: Results of a Feasibility Study.

Gibbs JC, McArthur C, Milligan J, Clemson L, Lee L, Boscart VM, Heckman G, Stolee P, Giangregorio LM.

Can J Aging. 2019 Apr 5:1-17. doi: 10.1017/S0714980818000739. [Epub ahead of print]

PMID: 30947765

Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography: Review of Evidence and Recommendations for Image Acquisition, Analysis, and Reporting, Among Individuals With Neurological Impairment.

Cervinka T, Giangregorio L, Sievanen H, Cheung AM, Craven BC.

J Clin Densitom. 2018 Oct - Dec;21(4):563-582. doi: 10.1016/j.jocd.2018.07.003. Epub 2018 Jul 29.

PMID: 30196052