Can Strength Training Prevent Osteoporosis?
It’s estimated more than 10 million Americans over the age of 50 live with osteoporosis, a bone disease that causes the bones to become weak and brittle.
Osteoporosis, in and of itself, isn’t usually painful. Typically, the condition doesn’t present symptoms until a fracture occurs. “That’s part of the reason it’s called a ‘silent disease,’ because it can occur in the background without you knowing it,” says Dr. Nasim A. Chowdhury, chief of rehabilitation medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Queens. Understanding the risk factors for osteoporosis, making healthy lifestyle choices and curating a solid exercise routine can help you take charge of this common condition.
What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis occurs when bone mineral density and bone mass drop significantly, resulting in weaker bones, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Disease.
Excerpted from USA Today
