I always assumed it did, no matter what your age (just the younger you are, the easier it was). Now I’m not so sure. I was posting on an arthritis chatgroup and they seem to have the consensus that once you’ve reached maturity, bone density can’t increase. Rather, load-bearing exercises will stop or slow done bone density loss, but apparently not increase it.
So which is it? Why, with enough calcium and other ingrediants, wouldn’t it increase at older ages when it does when you’re young? Is it something to do with hormones? Am I getting BSed by arthritis people with the wrong attitudes?
I guess that what they say has some truth to it. Men also suffer from bone loss and fractures just as women too. Weight lifting will stress bone and increase bone density, but perhaps not if the tendency is towards bone loss already. Training increases stability and decreases falls in older folks, and that reduces fractures.
But with HRT for men and women, bone density will recover/increase. For men who do TRT and training, they get the remineralization, bone stress and increased muscle control/stability.
I don’t think that there is a relationship of OA or RA to bone loss. But loss of testosterone might be playing a part in OA. But some men never get OA or very little and as a group they are also loosing testosterone, estrogen, DHEA and pregnanalone as they age. Except for those with syndrome X or metabolic disorder who get high estrogen levels and belly fat.
TRT corrects cholesterol levels, bone loss, weakness, lethargy, some endothelial damage processes and many other things. Taking statins for cholestol and fosimax for bones just seems like a very expensive patchwork of drugs to mask the symptoms hormone losses.
My OA is less and less of a problem. I have been taking supplements, but what really seemed to have worked was a product from LEF.org; however, since getting on TRT, I feel that things are even better, and I now have greatly increase grip/finger strength. So no pain and more strength. I do not take any NSAIDs routinely, except for a mini aspirin every day.
If you’re old and you didn’t exercise before, if you start exercising the bone density will increase.
If you’re old but you exercised all along throughout all those years, bone density should be pretty high but at some point will start decreasing anyway. But it’s gonna be better at any point compared to someone who doesn’t exercise.
[quote]tyciol wrote:
I always assumed it did, no matter what your age (just the younger you are, the easier it was). Now I’m not so sure. I was posting on an arthritis chatgroup and they seem to have the consensus that once you’ve reached maturity, bone density can’t increase. R[/quote]
They probably don’t lift weights out of fear of blindness too. Like another poster said, there have been numerous studies on bone density pre vs post resistance training that have shown bone density increases. Ask these “experts” to back up their assertions with scientific fact. Maybe you should look up some studies to throw at them. They shouldn’t be too hard to find.
Rant Warning
Too many people don’t want to exert themselves the way they need to stay fit so they come up with reasons for why they shouldn’t.
[quote]florin wrote:
If you’re old and you didn’t exercise before, if you start exercising the bone density will increase.
If you’re old but you exercised all along throughout all those years, bone density should be pretty high but at some point will start decreasing anyway. But it’s gonna be better at any point compared to someone who doesn’t exercise.[/quote]
Perfect basic explaination (assuming adequate Ca and associated factor intake).
[quote]buffalokilla wrote:
Perfect basic explanation (assuming adequate Ca and associated factor intake).
[/quote]
You need more that calcium; magnesium is critical and almost everyone who does not supplement is deficient. Boron is critical from an enzyme point of view and all of this does not work without vitamin D and hormones. So I see all these people buying calcium only supplements, ignorance is great, sell useless crap.
I have been athletic all my life, but have only been lifting seriously for the past 2 and 1/2 years. My recent DEXA scan was for a baseline (I’m 52) and according to that reading, my BMD (bone mineral density) is high, even when compared to the statistically “average” thirty five year old American woman. The fact is that strong muscles = strong tendons = syrong bones. All I know is that lifting heavy has increased my overall strength, which in itself is it’s own reward.