Spine-Talks
Welcome to Spine-Talks®, the official podcast of the National Spine Health Foundation — your source for scholarly guidance on spinal health and wellbeing. Here, we have the opportunity to interview top spine surgeons, rehab specialists, patients, and researchers as we speak about innovative technology in the treatment of the spine, hear real patient stories, and provide evidence-based recommendations for a pain-free, active life. No matter if you are in recovery from a spinal condition or simply wish to maintain a healthy back, Spine-Talks® offers hope, education, and empowerment—straight from the nation's top spine experts.
Spine-Talks
Stronger Together: How Specialists Work Together to Improve Bone Health for Women and Men
In this episode of Spine Talks, we explore the vital topic of osteoporosis — a condition that weakens bones and increases the risk of fractures — with two world-class experts from complementary fields: Dr. Robert Adler, an endocrinologist from Virginia Commonwealth University and the Richmond VA Center who has spent more than 30 years studying osteoporosis in women and men, and Dr. Paul Anderson, an orthopedic spine surgeon from the University of Wisconsin who leads bone health programs aimed at preventing fractures and improving surgical outcomes, and co-chairs our Task Force.
Together, they uncover what most people don’t realize: bones are living, changing organs that constantly remodel throughout life. The doctors discuss:
- How bone health changes over time and why osteoporosis is often silent until a fracture occurs
- Simple, preventive steps — nutrition, vitamin D, calcium, and weight-bearing exercise
- Diagnostic tools like the DEXA scan, and who should be screened
- The intersection of spine surgery and bone health — why bone optimization matters before surgery
- Osteoporosis in men, a frequently overlooked population with higher mortality after fractures
- Modern treatments, including antiresorptive and anabolic medications, their safety, effectiveness, and how they restore bone strength
The episode emphasizes that osteoporosis is preventable and treatable, with the right combination of lifestyle, medical care, and awareness. Both doctors encourage patients to be proactive advocates for their bone health and start conversations with their physicians about screening and treatment options.
Tune in to learn about the future of spinal health!