Osteoporosis is a silent disease because it progresses without visible symptoms. There are no symptoms in the early stages. Most people do not know that they have it until a bone breaks. It can be from a fall or something as slight as a bear hug. A sneeze or sudden movement can be enough to break a bone in someone with severe osteoporosis. Later in the disease you can notice kyphosis or a stooped posture. A dowager’s hump becomes apparent. There can be neck or back pain due

In order to keep our bones dense we must perform weight bearing exercises and strength training. Using light weights in your exercise routine may not be sufficiently helping your bones. The amount of weight bearing that causes the bone to become denser is called osteogenic loading. It takes a certain load to stimulate the bone. Bones can be loaded or unloaded from prolonged bed rest. Scientists have determined that the amount of loading required to stimulate the bone equals 4

This Osteoporosis exercise and education two part series will be helpful to those interested in learning about the prevention, treatment and management of osteoporosis through exercise. If you have a client with osteoporosis or osteopenia you should this understand how to teach them how to exercise properly and safely in order to decrease the risk the progression of this disease. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 1 out of 2 women and 1 out of 4 men over 50

Over 50 exercisers should modify their workout due to potential physical changes associated with aging. Make sure to exercise to stay healthy-not get injured. As we age there are degenerative changes, elasticity changes, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis. Our balance deteriorates and some of the medications that we may be on can effect our exercise performance. Use lighter weights for delicate body parts (shoulders) and avoid high risk exercises. Make sure not to do the same move

People over 50 will lose weight slowly due to slower metabolisms, hormonal changes, and decreased muscle mass. Medical conditions can cause your weight loss to be slow and those on anti- depressants and corticosteroids, may have an additional challenge. Finally, genetics may add to the challenge. You might not be exercising as much or as intensely as you need to for weight loss. If you want to take off weight post 50, you have to start changing your routine. Examples: add an

There are warning signs that you need to be more active as we age. *Weight gain.    If you are maintaining weight but your clothes are tight

If one has not exercised for a long period of time it is recommended to ease back into an exercise program. If you restart from the place that you left off, it will increase the chance of injury. You also might also be terribly sore for several days. It is wise to start easy and slowly increase the intensity of your workout. For those who want to get back to exercise, it is recommended to start with a fitness assessment. This is especially true for those over 40. As we get