As we age the most important bone to maintain bone density (essentially this is what results in bone strength, and a loss of it results in bone weakness...and fractures in the elderly) in is the femoral neck...the "hip" bone that fractures so commonly in the elderly with often relatively minor falls. Hip fractures are the most common fracture in the elderly, and in some ways are a life threatening injury since if not repaired can result in being bed ridden, and cause a patient to succumb to a pneumonia. They essentially are caused by a loss of bone density over a period of many years. For the most part the best way to maintain bone density in the femoral neck is by impact bearing excersize...ie running and walking, especially if walking at a fairly brisk rate. Paddling certainly won't do it...nor as stated below will biking. These forms of excersize are all beneficial, but as to increasing bone density.... I think paddling is a pretty low impact event, so likely does not increase bone density anywhere all the much. Michael Orchard Vancouver, Washington > >So have been looking at changing an exercise program to include more load > >bearing activity for maintenance of bone strength. > > > >To what extent does kayaking provide such exercise? > > I'm not sure if load bearing in one part of the body positively affects bone > > strength in other parts of the body. > > Based on what I've read, almost not at all. Bicycling doesn't even provide load-bearing exercise. To be load bearing, you've got to get the weight of your body supported by your bones to have an effect. Impact helps, too, although you have to balance joint health against bone health. > > Resistance training helps, since the muscles pull against the bone, and so provides for bone growth, but I think this effect is minor compared with running. > > And this is not like cardio. Bone density development is site specific. Only the bone being worked sees the benefit > > Steve Cramer > cramersec_at_earthlink.net > 2002-07-16 *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Jul 16 2002 - 22:45:51 PDT
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