Health Tip: Exercise to Help Prevent Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is characterized by thin and brittle bones that are more likely to break.

The American Council on Exercise offers these suggestions to help build bone health:

• Create an exercise regimen that includes aerobic weight-bearing exercises four days per week, plus two or three days of resistance training.
• Perform flexibility exercises frequently, but make sure you don't include activities that cause the spine to bend forward.
• Build your muscles by walking, running or lifting weights.
• Perform a variety of different exercises that you enjoy and that work different muscles.
• Make sure your exercises don't cause joint pain.