Exercise is an effective way to look after our bones, although a recent study says an activity that aims to boost bone mineral density (BMD) does not work. Being physically active has more than one wellness benefit, but when it comes to osteoporosis it can be particularly effective at strengthening our bones – with some exercises being much more effective than others.
Getting active
The ideal time to put in place exercise routines is when we’re younger, especially in terms of BMD. Resistance exercises boost bone health, so walking, cycling and anything like this that requires our skeleton to hold up our body is effective, as are strength training pastimes. Even if we weren’t overly active in our youth, our BMD and wellbeing can still benefit from exercises we do in our later years. One activity that we may do as women is vibration plate exercises, which are meant to enhance bone density by putting pressure on the skeleton from the feet upwards. But a recent study by the University Health Network shows that this may be ineffective for women who have osteoporosis.
The study
The average age for women in the study was 60-years old, and they were divided into two groups. Over six months, half ate a healthy diet that included Vitamin D and calcium, while the other group used the machines to boost their BMD. The results showed that there was no difference in BMD between the two groups. This leading researchers to suggest that vibrating plate exercises do not increase BMD so may be of no benefit to women who have osteoporosis. In the past, the machines were believed to have the same bone-preserving effects as moderate to intense exercises, but researchers carrying out the study say that this may not be the case. Clinicians still support the benefits of exercise to bone health, and a trip to the doctors can shed more light on what activities may protect our bones from further cell loss and issues associated with osteoporosis.
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