Exercise. We all know we need it. But your bones will be particularly thankful to you if you get up and go. Check out these special perks that exercise offers your skeleton:
- Exercise aids in bone development. The action of resistance exercises actually stimulate the formation of bone tissue. You don’t need fancy equipment — dumbbells, exercise tubing, your own body weight, bricks, bottles of water — they can all be used in resistance training. Check out this guide from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Better skeletal support. Stronger muscles and increased endurance give your skeleton the support it needs. This is especially important as you age.
- Resistance to fractures increases with exercise. This is a huge benefit for older adults. Falls and other accidents aren’t as dangerous when your bones are dense and healthy.
- Fend off osteoporosis with weight-bearing exercise. Post-menopausal women tend to lose about 1% of their bone density each year. Research shows that weight-bearing exercise can help prevent — and even sometimes reverse — bone loss in both the spine and hip bones. Anyone ages 50+ can benefit from weight-bearing exercise. Ask your physician about it!
- Women who walk at least 4 hours per week can actually decrease their risk of osteoporosis by 40% compared to sedentary women. Walking is a great no-impact type of exercise that yields many different types of health benefits. It’s a great way to remain healthy and active as you get older.
- Bones benefit from the pressure exercise puts upon them. Pressure aids in the calcification process. Combined with a healthy diet, it’s a great combination.
- Body-building exercise like walking is super efficient at building bone mass.
So get out there and get active! Even a simple walk for a few minutes a day will help. Your spine and skeleton will be stronger, and your entire body will thank you.
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