Helping Your Elderly Loved One Prevent Osteoporosis Through Exercise

Did you know that exercising can do more than burn calories for your elderly loved one and help them lose weight? Research shows that regular exercise can also help to prevent osteoporosis. By building up the muscles and improving endurance, your elderly loved one can keep their body stronger and build bone mass at the same time.  

Doing Resistance Exercises

bigstock Nurse helping senior woman in 201165016

Home Care Hollywood, CA: Osteoporosis and Exercise

Research shows that resistance exercises can help your elderly loved one to lower their risk of bone fractures by improving their bone density. There are many different types of resistance exercises that your elderly loved one can do. Some of these include the following: 

  • Using a weight machine 
  • Lifting free weights 
  • Doing water exercises  
  • Using resistance bands or tubing 

You should encourage your elderly loved one to start doing more resistance exercises.  

Doing Weight-Bearing Exercises 

You and home care providers can help your elderly loved one to prevent osteoporosis, by having them do weight-bearing exercises, as well. These exercises include your elderly loved one using the legs and feet to support their body. Some of the exercises in this category include the following: 

  • Running 
  • Walking 
  • Hiking 
  • Dancing 
  • Stair climbing 

If your elderly loved one does weight-bearing exercises regularly, it can help to build up their overall strength and build bone density, too.  

Doing Flexibility Exercises 

Another important part of maintaining joint flexibility and reducing the risk of fractures is doing flexibility exercises. These exercises are a crucial part on helping to prevent osteoporosis. Some of the flexibility exercises that you can encourage your elderly loved one to do include the following: 

  • Pilates 
  • Stretching 
  • Tai Chi 
  • Yoga 

While these might not seem like major exercises to you, they can be extremely beneficial for your elderly loved one. 

Conclusion 

If you want to help your elderly loved one prevent osteoporosis, there are many different exercises they can add to their workout routine. It is important to remember not to have your elderly loved one overdo it in their exercises. They should know and follow their limitations. In addition, you or a home care provider may want to watch over your elderly loved one to ensure they stay safe when exercising.  

 

If there are any exercises your elderly loved one is doing that cause them pain, they should stop immediately. Workouts are often uncomfortable. However, they should not be painful. Before starting any workout regimen, you may also want to help your elderly loved one learn proper form for the various exercises, too.  

 

If you or an aging loved-one is considering home care in Hollywood, CA please contact the caring staff at Nu Care Inc. today at. 800-505-6890 

 

Sources 

https://www.bones.nih.gov/health-info/bone/bone-health/exercise/exercise-your-bone-health#:~:text=Weight%2Dbearing%20and%20resistance%20exercises,weights%20%E2%80%93%20can%20also%20strengthen%20bones.