Popular Osteoporosis Exercise Program is in Full Swing

Osteoporosis is a disease of the bone that makes a person’s bones weak and more likely to break. Approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and another 44 million have low bone density, placing them at increased risk. The National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been tracking an increase in the prevalence of osteoporosis. Their 2018 study found that over 17% of adults age 65 and older have the disease, with women more highly represented than men.

An osteoporosis exercise program can increase muscle strength, improve balance, decrease the risk of broken bones, improve posture, and lessen pain. That’s why Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands is offering a cost-free osteoporosis exercise program to older adults diagnosed with osteoporosis, or at risk of developing it.

Class activities are those recommended for people with osteoporosis, such as

• Strength training exercise (use of hand weights and resistance bands, or your own body weight to strengthen muscles, tendons, and bones).
• Weight-bearing aerobic activities, like walking and low-impact aerobics.
• Flexibility exercises, moving joints through their full range of motion, with gentle, slow stretching.
• Stability and balance exercises help muscles work together in a way that makes falls less likely.

Osteoporosis exercise classes are currently offered at the following locations:

Barnstable Adult Community Center: Monday, Wednesday, Fridays at 8:30a, with Florence and Sue (No class first Friday of the month).

Chatham First United Methodist Church: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30, with Liz.

Mashpee Council on Aging: Wednesdays at 12 noon, with Christine.

Sandwich Center For Active Living: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 am, with Mary. (Open to Sandwich residents only)



Classes are led by certified volunteers, trained annually by a Spaulding Rehab professional.

Consult your health care provider before starting any exercise program for osteoporosis. If you’d like to participate in one of ESCCI’s osteoporosis exercise classes, you’ll need to complete a registration form, including permission from a physician. Forms are available from the Volunteer Resource Manager at (508) 258-2490 or the class leader. All participants must submit a completed form before participating.

Meet Osteo Instructor Florence Hodkinson

Florence started attending an Osteoporosis exercise class shortly after retiring as Assistant Clerk/Treasurer with the Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills Fire District in December, 2003. An enthusiastic square dancer, Florence loved the class. After the program moved to the Barnstable Adult Community Center, she began to lead the class occasionally. Then, when the instructor retired, Florence took over and she’s been leading classes there ever since. In addition to the physical benefits, she notes that the classes are a way to meet and socialize with some wonderful people.

Florence grew up in Fall River, where she met and married George Hodkinson just a year after her high school graduation. They remained married for more than 63 years. Then in 2020, George passed away on Christmas Day. Florence has 7 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren and, in addition to her teaching, is an active volunteer with the Barnstable Adult Community Center, the Barnstable Police Station and Our Lady of Hope Chapel. She continues to work part-time as the bookkeeper for the Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills Firefighters Association.