Bone and muscle health are at the centre of an upcoming event taking place at Brock University.

Set for Saturday, Sept. 30, the Musculoskeletal Health Education Forum will feature talks from leading researchers and clinicians on muscle and bone health and development, muscle and bone disease care and treatment, and strategies to limit the risk for musculoskeletal injuries.

Speakers include Brock University Professors David Ditor, William Gittings and Wendy Ward; York University Professor David A. Hood; University of Waterloo Professor Lora Giangregorio; University of Toronto Associate Professor Daniel Moore; and Physiotherapist Practitioner Jennifer Dermott from the Hospital for Sick Children.

“It is important to build musculoskeletal resiliency in healthy populations to prevent age-associated declines in the function of these tissues,” says Sophie Hamstra, Brock PhD student in Health Biosciences and one of the lead organizers of the event. “It is also very important in disease states where there is already a decline in function such as osteoporosis, sarcopenia, scoliosis or muscular dystrophy, to preserve or maybe even enhance the capacity of these tissues to improve quality of life and longevity.”

Complementing the presentations from researchers and clinicians will be a poster display showcasing current research by Brock graduate and undergraduate students related to improving or maintaining bone and muscle health. Abstract submissions will be accepted until Friday, Sept. 15. Prizes will be awarded at the event for top poster presentations.

“This is an opportunity for students to receive feedback on their methodology, presentation and knowledge translation skills, and ideas for future directions,” says Hamstra.

It’s also a chance to network with other students and faculty researching similar and related topics, she said.

All Brock faculty, staff and students, as well as Niagara community members, are invited to attend the free forum. Registration is open until Tuesday, Sept. 26.

“It’s important we make connections with our community and translate our knowledge in a way that is accessible to everyone to promote interest in our research and in health and well-being,” says Hamstra.

The 2023 Musculoskeletal Health Education Forum will take place in the Goodman School of Business Atrium from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a networking session to follow. Lunch, snacks and refreshments will be provided.

The event is organized by Brock University’s Centre for Bone and Muscle Health in partnership with the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences; the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs; the Office of the Vice-President, Research; and scientific instrumentation companies Aurora Scientific Inc. and Scintica.

More information, including how to register for the forum as an attendee and submit a research abstract, can be found on the Musculoskeletal Health Education Forum webpage.

Questions can be emailed to cbmh@brocku.ca