PREVENT OSTEOPOROSIS BY EXERCISING AS YOU AGE

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Gabe Mirkin, M.D.

When it comes to preventing osteoporosis, it matters little what you did when you were young, it's what you do now that counts.

A study from Malmo University in Sweden shows that Men who were highly competitive soccer players in their youth and then gave up active sports did not have bigger and stronger bones and did not have fewer bone fractures than people who never exercised at all. On the other hand, people who did not exercise in their youth, but started and continued their exercise programs into later life did have larger and stronger bones.

In spite of this study, you still should start exercising when you are young. Good habits are usually developed when you are young. People who start exercising at an early age usually benefit by learning how to exercise. They take a harder workout on one day, followed by easy workouts until their muscle soreness disappears and they learn to take off when their muscles are sore.

Karlsson MK et al. Exercise during growth and bone mineral density and fractures in old age. Lancet 2000(Feb 5);355:469-470.