What is Weight-Bearing or Load-Bearing Exercise?
Weight-bearing exercise is any physical activity done on your feet that involves your bones and muscles working against the force of gravity. Because bone is continually breaking down and reforming, the weight and pull of muscles builds more cells and makes the bone stronger. Load-bearing exercises involve weight training with free weights or machines and working with resistance bands. Which Forms of Exercise Are Best at Osteoporosis Prevention? Ideal weight-bearing exercises to prevent osteoporosis include brisk walking, jogging, hiking, dancing, step aerobics and stair climbing. Skiing, skating, tennis, squash and team sports like soccer, baseball, and basketball all build stronger bones. Helpful exercise also includes pushing a lawnmower, heavy gardening, karate, yoga and bowling. While swimming and cycling are great cardiovascular activities, since they are not weight bearing, they have minimal bone-building capacity. Most activities can be adapted for people with disabilities. Bef
