Severe age-related bone loss ("osteoporosis") affects one in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 in the UK. Those affected often sustain a fracture of one or more vertebrae of the spine, leading to a humped back ("senile kyphosis") which can be painful, disabling and distressing. A spinal fracture can mean severely limited activity and constant pain. Current treatments do little to alleviate chronic pain, and cannot prevent deformity.