If you're getting on in years, you might be concerned about the health of your bones. As people age, their bones tend to weaken, which increases their risk of developing life-threatening fractures and bone breaks if they were to fall. While the aging process may be unavoidable, there are still ways to keep your bones strong. One of the best ways is to lift weights. Read on to learn more about the science behind weightlifting and how its making bones stronger:

The Effect of Age

Although weight lifting is good for bones at any age, it's particularly helpful for people who are older. The reason for this is that as you age, your body doesn't produce as many new bone cells as it used to. Bones, like any other part of the body, are constantly going through a cycle of renewal where old or damaged cells are replaced by fresh, new cells. However, as you age, the amount of new cells being produced diminishes, and bones become thinner and weaker as a result. Weight lifting helps to stimulate the bones to make new cells again, which is why it's so useful for people with osteoporosis or those who are going through menopause.

Osteoblasts

When you lift weights, it puts pressure on your bones. The muscles you use to lift pull on your bones, and your bones are subjected to the extra pressure of the weight you're carrying. This creates slight damage to your bones, in the same way that microtears develop in your muscles when you lift weights. While it might sound bad, it's actually how the strengthening process begins.

When this damage is detected, the osteoblasts in your bones go into hyperdrive to repair the damage. They activate, creating new bone cells, which not only replaces the old and damaged cells but helps to thicken and strengthen your existing, healthy bones. In short, weightlifting reverses the cycle of osteoblasts failing to produce enough bone cells to maintain bone density.

Getting Started

If you're worried about your bones, any kind of load-bearing exercise is a good idea, even if you just use your body's own weight. However, it's a good idea to check with a doctor before you begin any kind of exercise plan. This is particularly true if you have osteoporosis or suspect that you might. While weight lifting can be beneficial for this condition, it's possible for you to hurt yourself if your bones aren't strong enough to tolerate the exercises you attempt to do. Your doctor can help you to determine which exercises are best for your needs and how much weight your bones can tolerate.

Weight lifting is an excellent tool to have in an arsenal to help keep bones strong. If you want to maintain the health of your bones and body, consider weight lifting or any other load-bearing exercise plan. Contact a company like Radius for more information and assistance.