Loren Fishman's article Pilot Study and New Book Prove Yoga's Benefits in Treating Osteoporosis appeared today in the Huffington Post referencing earlier published results of his pilot study on yoga and osteoporosis (downloadable pdf copy of the article at: http://www.sciatica.org). His and co-author Ellen Saltonstall's forthcoming book Yoga for Osteoporosis
Today's Huffington Post piece succinctly sums up why yoga is good for you and high impact exercise is not:
"Too much impact exercise and you will help your bones while hurting your joints. Don't exercise and your osteoporosis will advance. It's both ends of the bone against the middle.
While Yoga is no panacea, it does provide weight-bearing exercise with none of the dangers that lead to osteoarthritis. Yoga pits one muscle group against another to generate forces far greater than gravity. Yoga is isometric exercise. It is also weight bearing. Both of these types of activity have been proven to improve bone strength. Unlike most forms of "weight-bearing" activity, Yoga does not damage cartilage or lead to osteoarthritis, another peril of aging."For additional information see Dr. Fishman's site at: http://www.sciatica.org/.
