Excercise helps prevent osteoporosis

Exercise can be good for you, but not all exercise is the same. Different types can help different parts of the body and can help prevent different ailments. The key is knowing which exercises to undertake.

Bones are like muscles- the more they are used, the stronger and denser they can become. Certain types of exercise can help fight the bone loss brought about by aging, including that from osteoporosis, a potentially debilitating disease that causes bones to become porous and break easily.

People who are walking for exercise may not be getting the health benefits for osteoporosis that other forms of exercise provide.

"For osteoporosis, other forms of exercise are better," said Stan Reents, PharmD, a certified personal trainer and creator of AthleteInMe.com, a website focused on exercise and fitness.

The best exercises for stimulating bone strength are those that cause an "impact" to the skeleton.

"Anything that involves jumping, such as basketball, volleyball, even simple jumping jacks, is most effective," said Reents. "Less effective exercises for strengthening bones include cycling, swimming and, surprisingly, walking, unless it involves walking up stairs or walking uphill."

While cardiovascular exercise can be great for the heart, impact exercises should be mixed in to help improve bone strength and density.

"Runners should also incorporate jumping types of exercise or weight-training routines. Cyclists, swimmers and walkers also need to add some type of impact exercise," said Reents.

The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and that an additional 34 million already have low bone mass. Bone loss is fast becoming an epidemic. Osteoporosis is responsible for 1.5 million fractures every year and, as the U.S. population continues to age, the rate of fractures is expected to double by 2040.

"Many people might think that osteoporosis is a disease that develops in women after menopause. That's true, but it can occur in both men and women, and across a wide age range," said Reents.

People don't need to wait until they are older to take steps to ward it off. Fighting bone loss is something that should start at a young age. For young girls, the ages of 10 to 17 are critical years for developing bone strength. If they do not do impact exercise, they can impair this bone development process.

Those who are older and haven't been physically active can still start the right types of exercise for specific health needs. Everyone needs to check with a healthcare provider before commencing any exercise program.

For more information on exercise, fitness and training, visit www.AthleteInMe.com.

This story is provided by State Point Media.