Osteoporosis is a condition that does not exhibit symptoms until there is a bone fracture, so a large percentage of patients remain unaware of their condition. When people are unaware their bones have weakened, the condition is left untreated, and the recent rise of the elderly population has caused an increase in bone fractures. This has a large societal impact, such as overwhelming medical costs and increased need for long-term care. Simple screenings at resident health exams are one way for an increase in osteoporosis detection without having to go to the hospital. When suspected osteoporosis and osteopenia is properly detected and patients are encouraged to get further evaluation at the hospital, they can receive appropriate treatment. This study developed a novel method to detect untreated osteoporosis through a low-cost, physical function test during a routine health checkup.
