Lifting Weights and Osteoporosis
Itās easy to assume that someone frail wonāt have the strength to lift weights. I ask you to remember that adage, āIf you donāt use it, you lose it.āĀ This is true of your muscles and bones. Contrary to what you might think, lifting weights for weak bones is a good thing!
What are the Key Points?
Itās all about proper dosage (weight amount and reps) as well as proper alignment and breathing. Everyone, no matter your age, can benefit significantly from resistance training.
- Research references strengthening your back muscles (spine extensors) to strengthen bone and prevent spinal fractures. (1)
- Research also points to the effectiveness of squats for building hip bone mineral density. The key is to emphasize rapid initiation of the concentric portion of the squat.(1) This will build power.
- This concept can be generalized to most strength training moves (think biceps strengthening-quick on the concentric (bending) portion and slow on the eccentric (lengthening) portion.
On a side note, I recommend wearing foot coverings when lifting weights (like tennis shoes). This will protect your feet should a weight slip out of your hands.
What are the Benefits of Weight Training?
Weight training, more than any other exercise, can help strengthen your muscles and bones, maintain and improve posture, hone your balance, reduce pain, and prevent osteoporosis-related falls and fractures.
And as you become stronger, youāll notice the aches and pains associated with osteoporosis and osteoarthritis often begin to subside. My clients and patients often report that they feel considerably better and stronger over time, once theyāve added a few weights into their daily routine.
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Why does Lifting Weights Work?
Bone mass decreases as we age, so lifting weights can help strengthen the bones and restore lost mass or help minimize loss. (2) Ā When the tendons of muscles pull on their attached bone, it stimulates bone to grow. You actually want your bones to weigh more because heavierĀ bones are less subject to the brittleness and fractures associated with osteoporosis.
The other benefit with weight training is that the stronger your leg and hip muscles are, the more stable and steady youāll be. If you do happen to trip, you might catch yourself with your hands. Ā Strong arm and core muscles can help decelerate your fall, mitigating injury to your knees or hips.
Those with osteoporosis shouldĀ focus on exercises to strengthen the back, hips and wrists since, according to the Mayo Clinic, these are the areas most damaged by bone loss and at greatest risk for fracture.
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How often should you weight train?
Resistance training should be done optimally two or three times per week. Each session should include exercises to strengthen the hips and legs, trunk and arm muscles, and each exercise should be performed at least eight to 10 times.
I teach a twice-weekly strength training class called āSuperpowersā. Itās a 30-minute time-efficient strength training class using 2 sets of hand weights, one light and one heavier set based on your current fitness level. All levels are welcome and movements are carefully designed to be spine safe, bone safe and bone-building!
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Join me every Monday at 9 am and Friday at 11:30 am Pacific Time on Zoom for Superpowers and level up your muscle and bone health.
Register here: https://bonesmartpilates.as.me/Superpowers
References
- Sinaki et al. Stronger Back Muscles Reduce Vertebral Fractures, Bone Vol. 30, No. 6 June 2002:836ā841
- Mosti MP, Kaehler N, Stunes AK, Hoff J, Syversen U. Maximal strength training in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis or osteopenia. J Strength Cond Res. 2013 Oct;27(10):2879-86. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e318280d4e2. PMID: 23287836.
- Zamoscinska M, Faber IR, Büsch D. Do Older Adults With Reduced Bone Mineral Density Benefit From Strength Training? A Critically Appraised Topic. J Sport Rehabil. 2019 Dec 12;29(6):833-840. doi: 10.1123/jsr.2019-0170. PMID: 31835241.
Will you be making a dvd of these sessions?
There is a recording of the FB Live that lives on the private FB Aging Strong Pilates FB page.
You can also take my Superpowers class virtually or sign up for it and request a recording if the time is not convenient for you.
Superpowers-which is my bone-safe strength training classes with weights can be accessed virtually at bonesmartpilates.as.me Just go to the first Group Virtual Class tab so see the list of classes available. If you can’t make the class live, register and request a recording and I’ll send it to you!