Inspired by the conversation regarding calcium sources, I thought I’d take a moment to point out that in addition to nutritional measures, resistance training is an essential element of maintaining and improving the strength of bones.
The remodeling process of osteoblasts responds to the stresses placed on bones by physical activity. In the words of the NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training: “Bone is living tissue that responds to exercise by becoming stronger. Individuals who exercise regularly generally achieve greater peak bone mass (maximal bone density and strength) than those who do not…this is especially important for older adults and people who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis.” (4th Edition, p. 38)
Exercises that include weight bearing and moderate levels of impact (running, squats, push-ups, etc.) are great for improving bone strength, so make sure to integrate them into your workouts! No excuses now, you can do all of those without so much as a gym membership.
Here’s what The Onion has to say on the matter: