at any age exercise is essential for maintaining healthy bones. if you exercised regularly as a child and young adult you probably helped maximize your bone production most of which occurs by age 35. if you continued to exercise into middle age and beyond you probably helped reduce your risk of developing the bone-thinning disease osteoporosis. but it's never too late to start a bone-healthy exercise program even if you already have osteoporosis or are at high risk of developing osteoporosis. although people with osteoporosis may believe that exercise increases the risk of injury from broken bones the truth is quite the opposite. a regular properly designed exercise program may actually help prevent the falls and fall-related fractures that so often result in disability and premature death. that's because exercise strengthens bones and muscles and improves balance coordination and flexibility which is especially important for older adults and people who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis.
how does exercise help prevent or benefit those with osteoporosis?