For older adults, falls and associated injuries threaten health, independence, and quality of life. More than a third of people aged 65 years and older who live independently fall each year; falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths and hospital emergency department visits.

Osteoporosis means "porous bone." It is a condition that develops when more bone calcium is absorbed than is replaced in the normal bone remodeling process. Several factors contribute to the development of osteoporosis, but the exact reason why the remodeling process becomes unbalanced is unknown. Factors that often lead to osteoporosis include aging, physical inactivity, reduced levels of estrogen, excessive cortisone or thyroid hormone, smoking, and excessive alcohol intake. Loss of bone calcium accelerates in women after menopause.

The oldest age group, people aged 75 years and older, account for the largest share of vertebral compression fractures (44%) and a major portion (34%) of acquired curvature of the spine, even though they represent only 8% of the population aged 18 years and older. They also account for a large share (29%) of spondylopathy diagnosis as well as 25% of idiopathic curvature of spine diagnosis; this is overall a larger share of all spinal deformity diagnoses than expected for the size of this age group.