Taking Steps, Literally, to Help Prevent Osteoporosis

The fact that bones are living tissue is good news. That’s because it means you can take steps to improve your bone health — and one of the best ways to strengthen your bones is through exercise.

When you perform certain types of exercises, it causes your muscles and tendons to pull on your bones. This, in turn, stimulates the bone cells causing them to produce more
bone tissue.

Exercise can help prevent osteoporosis, a serious disease in which your bones become brittle, weak and may even break easily. Although post-menopausal women are at a higher risk for osteoporosis, anyone can develop it, so taking actions to avoid it is good for everyone.

Some of the best activities for preventing osteoporosis are weight-bearing exercises, resistance training and high-impact workouts.

While these workouts can all have a direct impact on preventing osteoporosis, workouts that focus on flexibility and balance are also good for your overall bone health. They can reduce your risk of falls and your chances of sustaining a fracture. For these reasons, make sure to include balance and flexibility exercises in your workout routine, too.

Note: When it comes to working out, always remember that moderation is key. It is possible to overexercise, and in fact cause damage to your bones and joints. If you’re not sure if an exercise is right for you, talk to your doctor. If you already have osteoporosis, do not perform high-impact workouts, and ask your doctor which workouts are safe for you.

It’s Never Too Late to Get Started

It makes good sense to combine your workouts with other healthy lifestyle choices that can help improve your bone health. Be sure to get plenty of calcium in your diet, avoid alcohol or drink in moderation, and do not use tobacco products.

Finally, remember it’s never too late to start building new healthy habits. Although it is ideal to have been practicing osteoporosis-prevention exercises throughout your life,
starting at any age can benefit you and help you maintain strong and healthy bones!