Osteoporosis:

Chemotherapies and some adjuvant drug therapies for various cancers may lead to an increase in bone loss, sometimes at an alarming rate. Bone loss causes the bones to become brittle and more easily broken. Broken bones mean pain, immobility, and loss of independence. Weight-bearing exercise can help to maintain bone density and therefore reduce fractures. Any exercise in which you have to work against gravity is weight-bearing. Walking is a good weight-bearing exercise, but it is only weight-bearing for your lower body. Because we get a fair amount of weight-bearing exercise for the lower body during the normal course of a day, it’s important to put some focus on the upper body. That means weight training. You just need enough weight to give you some resistance. Try to do some weight training 2-3 times per week. In addition to helping maintain bone strength, exercise will improve your balance and strength. This can help you prevent falls that could result in fractures if your bones are already weakened. Julie Tip

I try to build extra weight-bearing exercise into my normal daily activities, apart from my usual workouts. That way I’m doing more to maintain bone health every day. If I need to lift and carry a heavy box, I hold it a little longer. When I carry wood (I have a wood stove), I’ll hold the logs and lift them above my head repeatedly as I walk. You can add a great deal of weight-bearing exercise into your day if you pay attention. For more information visit my blog.

Note: It is important to talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program.