What kind of exercise strengthens bones?
An exercise must be weight bearing or strength training in nature to benefit bone health. Weight bearing exercises/activities include, baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, weight lifting, aerobics, dancing and walking. Although swimming is good exercise, it is not a weight bearing activity. The benefits of weight bearing activities are site specific. This means that you strengthen only the bones used directly in the exercise. Therefore, it’s a good idea to participate in a variety of weight bearing exercises. To maintain the bone building benefits, exercise should be continued on a regular basis. Why does weight bearing exercise benefit bones? Weight bearing activities improve bone health for many reasons. First, weight bearing exercise appears to stimulate bone formation. Second, it strengthens muscles that in turn pull or tug on bones. This action keeps bones strong. And third, physical activity improves your strength, balance and coordination–all of which help reduce your risk of
