Perimenopause & Bone Health: TikTok Trends, Strength & Fall Prevention

APRIL BLOG 2025

Is your social media feed full of perimenopause content? Or maybe your algorithm is being a little more subtle. It’s great to see this once-overlooked stage of life finally getting the attention it deserves—but with that comes an overwhelming flood of advice, products, and influencer endorsements. How do you separate evidence-based therapies from clever marketing? Weighted vests for everyone, apparently!

I’m sure many people feel this “time of life” has sneaked up on us. But it also feels like an opportunity to take control of our health and make positive changes. One of the major concerns for many perimenopausal and menopausal women, as well as their healthcare providers, is osteoporosis—and with it, the increased risk of falls.

As awareness of perimenopause and menopause grows, healthcare providers must prioritise evidence-based strategies to address the increased risk of falls, often linked to osteoporosis. With April Falls Month upon us, now is the ideal time to explore ways we can reduce this risk and protect our patients’ mobility and independence.

No one would willingly choose to experience a fracture, but hip fractures, in particular, are widely recognised for their severe consequences. In Australia, they rank among the most serious, costly, and concerning fractures (Healthy Bones Australia, 2024). Though often associated with older adults, research from Healthy Bones Australia (2024)  highlights a critical pattern—many patients who sustain a hip fracture have previously experienced another fracture. This presents a key opportunity for healthcare providers to investigate underlying osteoporosis and other risk factors, enabling earlier detection and intervention.
Younger patients often focus on exercise for fitness, weight loss, or muscle building, but evidence suggests it is also the most effective method for preventing falls (Healthy Bones, 2025). Strength-based training offers well-established benefits, as demonstrated by its inclusion in multiple clinical guidelines, including those for chronic kidney disease, osteoporosis management, and the Physical Activity and Exercise Guidelines for all Australians.

For healthcare providers, integrating falls prevention into routine care is both straightforward and highly effective. Falls risk assessments and strength-based exercise recommendations can be included in GP Management Plans (GPMPs) and Team Care Arrangements (TCAs), ensuring that patients receive comprehensive support. NSW Falls Prevention and Healthy Ageing provides valuable resources, including links to the Falls Risk Assessment Tool and assistance in finding suitable exercise programs or providers. By using tools like these in your routine health assessments, you can quickly identify those at higher risk and begin proactive conversations about falls prevention.

Additionally, many clinical software systems enable providers to generate a physical activity prescription, offering patients clear, personalised exercise recommendations aimed at improving strength and balance. Strength training doesn’t have to be complicated. Simple exercises such as squats, lunges, and even light resistance training can significantly improve muscle strength and balance, reducing falls risk (Healthy Bones Australia, 2025). By incorporating these strategies into consultations, healthcare teams can play a crucial role in promoting long-term mobility and independence.

As we focus on preventing falls and promoting bone health this April, our Osteoporosis Health Promotion Box offers resources to assist in addressing these critical issues with your patients. Additionally, in recognition of Kidney Health Australia Action Week in May, we’re excited to offer our Chronic Kidney Disease Health Promotion Box, which is now available and ready to support your efforts in managing kidney health.

Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care (2021, January 1). Physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians. Physical Activity and Exercise. Retrieved March 6, 2025, from https://www.health.gov.au/topics/physical-activity-and-exercise/physical-activity-and-exercise-guidelines-for-all-australians

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Management in Primary Care (5th edition). Kidney Health Australia, Melbourne, 2024.

Healthy Bones Australia (2024, February). Exercise Prescription to Support the Management of Osteoporosis For Physiotherapists and Exercise Physiologists. Retrieved March 6, 2025, from https://healthybonesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/hba-ex-presc-final-compressed.pdf

Healthy Bones Australia (n.d.). Exercise & Bone Health. Retrieved March 6, 2025, from https://healthybonesaustralia.org.au/your-bone-health/exercise-bone-health/

Kidney Health Australia, 2025. Kidney Action Week. https://kidney.org.au/get-involved/kidney-action-week

NSW Falls Prevention and Healthy Ageing (2025, January 1). April Falls 2025. Retrieved March 6, 2025, from https://fallsnetwork.neura.edu.au/aprilfalls/

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Healthy Bones Australia. Osteoporosis management and fracture prevention in postmenopausal women and men over 50 years of age, 3rd edition. RACGP, 2024.