What is osteoporosis?
An introduction to osteoporosis and how bones lose strength.
Osteoporosis is a condition that weakens bones. This means they can break more easily.
On this page, we explain what osteoporosis is and how it is diagnosed.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weaker and break easily, even after a minor bump or fall. You might hear these breaks described as fragility fractures. The terms ‘fracture’ and ‘broken bone’ mean the same thing.
Fractures can affect almost any bone, but they are most common in the wrists, hips and spine. It’s these broken bones that can cause pain, rather than osteoporosis itself. Spinal fractures, also known as vertebral fractures, can also cause height loss and a curved spine.
Watch: What is osteoporosis?
This short video explains what osteoporosis is, who may be at risk and how to keep your bones healthy.
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About this information
This information is being reviewed and updated. It remains available while we complete this work.
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