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27 January 2009
Make no bones about it …
medico is taking his health message to the street
St George Hospital’s Associate Professor Terry Diamond will use a novel
approach to improve awareness of osteoporosis and bone disease when he takes his
health message on the road in March this year.
The fifty-three-year-old is certainly no slouch when it comes to leading by
example; he will don his joggers and run 328 kilometres from Canberra to Sydney
to raise awareness of the importance of healthy bones.
"I will be running solo, with two support vehicles over six consecutive days –
with the distance covered equivalent to running a standard marathon every day,"
Professor Diamond said.
"By making an extra special effort, I hope to encourage patients to get out and
be active as well as inspire those who live with the disease," he said.
Professor Diamond is the Head of the Metabolic Bone Unit at St George Hospital
and is a leading authority in osteoporosis and bone disease. He is also the
President of the Osteoporosis Sydney Support Group (OSSG), a registered charity
made up of more than 1,000 men and women, all of whom are osteoporosis
sufferers.
Osteoporosis is a disease of brittle bones where loss of bone mineral (calcium)
leads to weakening of the skeleton, fragility and bony fractures and can be a
crippling disease, leading to loss of independence.
"The onset of osteoporosis can be prevented with regular exercise, resistance
training, leading a healthy lifestyle and adequate amounts of calcium and
Vitamin D," Professor Diamond said.
"Classical risk factors for osteoporosis include oestrogen deficiency in woman
(menopause) and testosterone in men, small body frame, smoking history,
excessive alcohol and coffee consumption and lack of exercise. Genetic factors
play a key role in the development of osteoporosis," he said.
The OSSG provides ongoing exercise classes; lectures and information sessions;
bi-monthly newsletters; seminars for General Practitioners and a telephone
support service. The Group is also actively involved in research into the
management and treatment of osteoporosis.
Proceeds from the marathon will go to the OSSG. If you would like to support
Professor Diamond, please call 0419 230 163, or send donations to St George
Hospital, OSSG, Level 3, Prichard Wing, Gray Street, Kogarah, 2217.
Media enquiries: South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Health
Media Officer Maxine Brennan 9113 2601, 0413 028 776
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