Health
May 19, 2008 11:41 AM
beingwell magazine Spring 2008
No matter what your age, being active, maintaining an appropriate body weight, and building strength are the foundation for healthy living in general - and that includes your bones and joints.
It’s no surprise that excess weight, with all of that force on your knees, hips and ankles, can be tough on your joints. In fact, there is a definite correlation between obesity and rates of arthritis. So losing weight will literally take a load off.
So what can you do to help keep those pounds off, support your bones and joints, and prevent orthopaedic injuries and ailments? The good news is that it really takes nothing special, says Dr. Stewart Wright, a Toronto orthopaedic surgeon and chair of the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation’s Medical and Scientific Review Committee.
Here are some great exercises for building and maintaining strong, healthy bones:
• Walk to school.
• Park further away from the building or store.
• Take the stairs.
• Walk your dog.
• Hike, swim, golf, play tennis or basketball.
• For muscle strengthening, light weights for your legs or arms are enough to help.
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