FSHP Academy
Geriatric Fitness — all lessons

Module 1: Foundations

Introduction to geriatric fitness and the specialist’s rolePhysiology of ageing: sarcopenia, dynapenia, osteopeniaAge-related conditions, multimorbidity and frailty

Module 2: Assessment & Screening

Health screening, risk stratification and medicationsFunctional fitness assessment: SFT, SPPB, TUG, gait speed, grip

Module 3: Programming

Principles of programming: FITT-VP, progression, periodisationResistance and power training for sarcopeniaCardiovascular and aerobic conditioningBalance, mobility and fall preventionFlexibility, functional mobility and ADL training

Module 4: Chronic Conditions

Cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions (HTN, CAD, HF, COPD)Metabolic conditions in older adultsMusculoskeletal: osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, joint replacementNeurological and cognitive: Parkinson’s, stroke, MS, dementia

Module 5: Coaching, Safety & Business

Nutrition, hydration and recovery for older adultsBehavioural coaching, communication and adherenceSafety, emergencies and scope of practiceBusiness, settings and career pathwaysCase studies and sample programme templates

Musculoskeletal: osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, joint replacement

Exercise for older adults with osteoporosis, osteoarthritis and after joint replacement — evidence, adaptations and precautions.

Advanced Evidence: Strong evidence 3 min read Reviewed 2026-10-31 Status: draft

Learning objectives

  • Apply exercise guidance for osteoporosis
  • Prescribe exercise for osteoarthritis
  • Support clients after joint replacement
  • Adapt for pain and precautions

Before this lesson

Why this matters

Musculoskeletal conditions limit mobility and independence in many older adults.

Osteoarthritis

Exercise reduces pain and improves function in knee OA [fransen2015]. Best-practice care emphasises education, exercise and staying active [lin2020].

  • Strength: quadriceps, hips
  • Aerobic: cycling, walking, water
  • Pain monitoring: acceptable if it settles within ~24 h

Osteoporosis

Progressive resistance and balance training with spine-sparing strategies [giangregorio2014]; supervised high-intensity training can improve bone in some [watson2018].

Joint replacement

PhaseFocus
EarlyPhysiotherapy-led, surgical precautions
6–12 weeksWalking, strength, range
12+ weeksProgressive loading, return to activities

Common mistakes and misconceptions

Case study

A 68-year-old with knee OA cycles three times weekly and does strength training twice weekly. After 12 weeks her pain drops from 6/10 to 3/10 and she walks further.

Further learning: video lessons

Video links are only marked “verified” after a human has watched them. Unverified entries open a YouTube search for that channel and topic rather than a guessed link.

Practical demo needs verification — opens a YouTube search

Musculoskeletal: osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, joint replacement

geriatric exercise specialists and physiotherapists (search)

You will understand: musculoskeletal: osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, joint replacement

Why: Clinician-led content; verify the specific video.
Introductory needs verification — opens a YouTube search

Exercise for healthy ageing

geriatric medicine educators (search)

You will understand: why exercise matters in later life

Why: Clinical overview.

Knowledge check

Knowledge check · 0/5

1. Fransen et al. (2015) found exercise for knee OA…

Answer B. Cochrane.

2. A spine-sparing strategy for osteoporosis is…

Answer B. Giangregorio et al. (2014).

3. After hip replacement, precautions are set by…

Answer B. Surgical approach.

4. Pain during OA exercise is acceptable if…

Answer B. Pain monitoring.

5. Best-practice MSK care includes…

Answer B. Lin et al. (2020).

Short-answer & application questions

  1. Design a programme for knee OA.
  2. Adapt exercises for osteoporosis.
  3. Plan weeks 12–24 after knee replacement.

Key takeaways

  • Exercise reduces pain and improves function in knee osteoarthritis.
  • Osteoporosis: resistance, impact (as appropriate) and balance, with spine-sparing strategies.
  • After joint replacement, follow surgical precautions and progress strength and walking.
  • Some pain during exercise is acceptable if it settles within 24 hours.

Connected topics

womens health

Osteoporosis

corrective exercise

Knee

prehab rehab

The preoperative phase (prehabilitation)

References

  1. Fransen M, McConnell S, Harmer AR, et al. (2015). Exercise for osteoarthritis of the knee. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CD004376. Systematic review check pending
  2. Giangregorio LM, Papaioannou A, Macintyre NJ, et al. (2014). Too Fit To Fracture: exercise recommendations for individuals with osteoporosis or osteoporotic vertebral fracture. Osteoporosis International, 25(3):821–835. Guideline check pending
  3. Lin I, Wiles L, Waller R, et al. (2020). What does best practice care for musculoskeletal pain look like? Eleven consistent recommendations from high-quality clinical practice guidelines: systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(2):79–86. Systematic review check pending
  4. Watson SL, Weeks BK, Weis LJ, et al. (2018). High-intensity resistance and impact training improves bone mineral density and physical function in postmenopausal women with osteopenia and osteoporosis: the LIFTMOR randomized controlled trial. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 33(2):211–220. doi:10.1002/jbmr.3284 RCT check pending

Educational content only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis or treatment.