Walking and Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis in its literal sense means “thinning bone.” In this condition the bone architecture deteriorates, making your bones brittle and weak. When this happens your chances of a fracture are extremely high with the risk to every bone in your body increasing.

With age, most people do lose bone mass, but if it happens to an extent that it causes fractures then it could lead to you losing your independence. Osteoporosis can be prevented with regular exercise. If bone loss has already begun, walking can help slow down this process. Walking puts pressure on the bones and this in turn helps the body build bone mass. Thus there is a direct correlation between walking and osteoporosis.

Weight bearing exercises are those that expect your body to perform some work. Exercises such as walking, water aerobics, and step aerobics are good examples of this as they are done while on your feet and your bones in turn support your weight. Walking and osteoporosis work the best as this activity does not pose any risk to your joints and is safe. For those suffering from osteoporosis, walking for at least a mile every day is a great idea as the jarring to your bones is minimized.

Walking and osteoporosis can work for you. The best possible exercise to prevent osteoporosis is walking. Taking a walk out in the sunshine ensures that Vitamin D is absorbed. This vitamin allows calcium to be properly absorbed from the intestines. Walking, in addition, strengthens your bones with its weight bearing nature. Your muscles get pulled when you walk and this in turn increases your bone density.

There are some people who feel that even though walking is a great exercise for your heart and can help prevent osteoporosis, it is not enough. For bone to grow anew, more weight must challenge it, not the same weight over and over again as happens in walking. The focus while exercising should be on weight training or strength training. Adding of weights in a slow and progressive manner can help fight osteoporosis. When this is combined with medications for osteoporosis prescribed by your physician, the effect is even better and you will soon be able to see positive results.

To sum up, you can’t go wrong with walking. It helps lower your blood pressure, improves your mood, helps prevent osteoporosis, and increases your body flexibility. It is one of the best exercises to strengthen and tone up your entire body.