Osteoporosis Prevention: Not All Exercise Is Created Equal

“Then, there’s exercise,” she continued. Before she could get too far, I outlined my schedule for her: Exercise every morning at 4:30 a.m. The elliptical machine at the gym. Weight-lifting, 2 to 3 times a week. Cycling. If nothing else, a daily 3-mile walk. Check.

“Ah-HA!” Beth exclaimed, finally able to stop me in my tracks. “Cycling. Not a weight-bearing exercise. You need to concentrate on weight-bearing exercises.” Like, weight-lifting? I do that. “Not just weight-lifting,” Beth continued. “Weight-BEARING. Exercises where your bones bear the weight of your body.”

Huh? Don’t my bones always bear the weight of my body? Apparently not. Cycling doesn’t qualify. Nor does swimming (goodbye, water aerobics…) Walking is OK, but not the best. So, am I limited to churning out the miles on that darned boring elliptical machine every day? I decided I’d better look into this weight-bearing exercise thing.

And what I discovered confused me more than ever. Until, after much research, it began to make sense. Next time, I’ll tell you what I discovered about weight-bearing exercises: which ones are best for bone strength, and at the same time appropriate for a 55-year-old who’s not about to pull a Michael Jordan and join a basketball league, nor don the ice hockey gear she shed 35 years ago.