Oestrogren is the female body’s natural bone builder. Without oestrogen this bone building activity is interrupted and bone loss is accelerated. For this reason pre/post menopausal women are at increased risk of brittle bones (osteoporosis ). As bone loss is silent, it is imperative to be proactive in managing bone health during the menopause and beyond.
In addition to the advice from your GP, small lifestyle changes like incorporating bone-building exercises into your weekly routine can help halt or even reverse the progression of bone loss. However not all exercise is created equal when it comes to bone building. For exercise to stimulate bone growth, it has to “load” (challenge ) the bones. Activities such as weightlifting, dancing, or jogging all load the bones with an appropriate stimulus to generate body growth. In contrast, cycling and swimming “unload” the bones and have minimal effect on bone growth.
Dr Maria Kearney (PhD ) runs weight lifting classes for the over-50s in Ballinderreen and she reports a significant increase in the number of women with or at increased risk of osteoporosis wanting to learn how to lift weights safely and effectively to preserve/improve their bone health.
According to Dr Kearney, these women arrive a little apprehensive about what they can do with their diagnosis but soon feel empowered by the training and what it can do to put their bone health back under their control.
If you would like more information on increasing your bone strength, call Dr Kearney on 087 2732073.
