Osteoporosis is a major cause of disability in older women. So what can you do to prevent the condition? Or if you have it, how can you reduce your risk of the spinal problems and broken bones that osteoporosis makes you susceptible to?

The answer: Exercise.

One of the best ways to strengthen your bones and prevent osteoporosis is by getting regular exercise. Even if you already have osteoporosis, exercising can help maintain the bone mass you have.

Why do health experts recommend exercise for osteoporosis? When you exercise, you don't just build muscle and endurance. You also build and maintain the amount and thickness of your bones. You may hear health professionals call this “bone mass and density.”

Exercise is very important for slowing the progression of osteoporosis. Since bone is a live tissue, it responds to the environment just as the other live tissues do