Bone Health Exercise

Exercise is as important as good nutrition. Physical therapists are fond of saying, if it's physical – it's therapy. There's a lot of truth to that statement. Exercise improves bone strength and it also improves flexibility, balance and muscle strength. There is also a hidden benefit to exercise where it relates to bone health. Studies have shown that exercise can decrease the risk of falls by 25%. Falls, especially among the elderly, are a leading cause of fractures.

Just fifteen minutes of modest exercise every day, or one hour of exercise twice a week makes a big difference for health. There’s no need to overdose on exercise, unless you want to exercise more for personal enjoyment. Modest exercise is all that’s needed to maintain bone health. Modest exercise also improves brain function, reduces stress, and decreases the risk of heart attack. Excessive exercise with low body weight actually increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Exercise programs should strive to improve balance, flexibility, muscle strength, bone strength, and endurance. Before beginning an exercise program on your own you should probably check with your doctor to make sure your bones, muscles and balance are good enough to attempt some of these exercises without supervision or assistance.

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