Can yoga help combat the symptoms of osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease that affects the bone density of women over 50. As we age, our bones become more frail and prone to fractures. In fact, one in three women over 50 will experience a fracture as a result of osteoporosis, and it affects 200 million women across the world.
This disease progresses as we age. Our bones become more brittle, we become much more susceptible to broken bones, some of which can cause debilitating, chronic pain. You are at risk for osteoporosis if you are female, over 50, with a low body weight. Excessive drinking and smoking are also important factors.
Taking care of your bones is obviously the best way to try and prevent osteoporosis. A diet rich in calcium, supplements, and strength exercises that focus on the bones are all good ways to do that.
READ MORE: Three Reasons to Get More Magnesium
As it turns out, yoga may also be a great way to prevent the effects of this disease. A study done by the Manhattan Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center in New York found that people who did 10 minutes of yoga per day, over a 2-year period increased their bone density.
The reason this works is that yoga involves holding poses for a certain amount of time. When your muscles contract like this and stay contracted, it stimulates the osteocytes in the bones to create new proteins and make new bone. Yoga also helps your body create more synovial fluid to keep your joints lubricated.
Osteoporosis is also caused in part by inactivity, so yoga is also a great way to combat that. If you are suffering from the early stages of osteoporosis, start doing yoga now!
The stretches and movements will only help your body as you age, and the low intensity options will work well for you no matter how old you are.
[ via ]