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Kids Can Fight Osteoporosis with Exercise
July 8, 2010 Updated Jul 8, 2010 at 4:03 PM EDT

In the U.S., it is estimated that half of women over 50 will sustain a fracture due to osteoporosis. So, what can women and young girls do to help prevent it? According to a new report published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine, sports like gymnastics help make bones stronger. Dr. Eddie Olmedo, an orthopedic surgeon, tells us that "bones respond to a mechanical law where the more weight that goes through it, the more bone is built up. The more you use it in a weight-bearing fashion, the more bone there is going to be." So, in gymnastics, the jumping, the landing, and the pounding all add up to stronger bones. But gymnastics isn't the only way, "you've got jogging, cross country running, basketball, tennis, volleyball - any sports where you're in contact with a surface" adds Dr. Olmedo. Bone mass is primarily built up between the ages of 15 and 25 but the benefits won't show up for decades. That's why, experts say, parents need to get their kids excited about working out early on. Dr. Olmedo confirms that "the basic participation in any weight-bearing activity will prevent a lot of problems for the person in the long run."

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