Strength Training and Osteoporosis

by Randy Sabourin

Just had a great conversation about bone mass with one of our female personal training clients who is post menopause. She had gone from osteopenia to osteoporosis prior to starting a weight lifting program with us. She just told me her most recent scan showed no further degeneration, in fact it showed an increase in her bone mass! J

Studies show that strength training over a period of time can help prevent bone loss -- and can even help build new bone! Maintaining strong muscles through weight training helps to keep up your balance and coordination -- a critical element in preventing falls, which can lead to osteoporosis-related fractures.

"We lose so much muscle as we age that by the time we're 70, we only have about 50% to 55% of our muscle mass left," says Beatrice Edwards, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine and director of the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Center at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "That explains why we feel weak and tired as we age, and we can prevent some of that with weight training.

If you are concerned about loss of bone and muscle as you age, please contact us and we'll set you up wtih a personal strength training program and Personal Trainer.