Are you at risk for osteoporosis? Specific types of exercise can help, Elizabeth Tracey reports

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Osteoporosis, where minerals leach out of bone and bones become liable to fracture more easily, is common as people age, and is seen in both men and women. Frequently it is preceded by a condition called osteopenia, and exercise and cardiovascular health expert Kerry Stewart says certain exercises can help.

Stewart: The best exercises for bone health are the resistance exercises because it puts stress on the bone but that stress leads to a greater production of bone cells. There's a little bit of a breakdown but the responses get stronger and the other types of exercise that should be done for someone who has concerns about their bone mineral density, osteopenia or osteoporosis are weight bearing exercises like walking.    :28

Stewart notes that such types of exercise result in minerals being deposited into bone, which makes them stronger and more resistant to fractures, a major problem for aging people. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.