Is Erging Weight-bearing exercise?

[ciproano]

This is probably a question only middle-aged women worry about, but I can't seem to find an answer directly on-point. I do weight training a couple times a week, so the answer is more for information than prevention of osteoporosis.

I know that swimming is not considered weight-bearing, but my husband and I were trying to figure out if erging (or cycling, for that matter) were considered weight-bearing exercise. Any experts?

[johnlvs2run]

Rowing and cycling are not weight bearing as are walking and running, but all of these resistance exercises provide good benefits in prevention of osteoporosis.

[Yakky Doodle]

No expert here, but my understanding is that resistance training doesn't provide the benefits that true 'weight bearing' exercises do when it comes to battling osteoporosis. Resistance training will keep your fitness level up, and provide all sorts of physiological benefits that will help you beat off the effects of time, but I was under the impression that it doesn't put stress on the bone the way weight-bearing exercises do, so it doesn't stir up those little bone-building osteo-whatchamawhosits, and therefore isn't effective at fighting osteoporosis. In the short time I've been using the C2 (yes, you can see that I'm a newbie ), I've also found that it is a wonderfully non-jarring, "low impact" exercise. That's another indicator that it won't be effective at convincing your bones to strengthen.

But again ... I'm not an expert by any means. Just another middle-aged woman working hard to stave off bone loss.

[Sean Seamus]

there was an article on the British C2 web site a few months back on just this point - it recommended rowing as a suitable exercise for people at risk of ostoporosis, particularly in the lumbar spine

the thought being that the "stress" placed upon the spine from the rowing movements, results in the same benefits as "weight-bearing exercise"

[DavidA]

It isn't a question only for middle-aged women, but no, as others stated it isn't a weight-bearing exercise. I believe, however, that it is still somewhat beneficial as far as bone strength goes. Especially versus not doing exercise, or many of the other benefits of rowing. I personally think that walking as a weight-bearing exercise would be good, but running concerns me because of all the pounding the legs take - when the bones are weaker from the osteoporosis.

David

[johnlvs2run]

Yakky Doodle,

You make many good points. I agree that, though rowing and cycling are good for the upper body, they don't have the same benefits for the legs as does walking.

Many people lose their ability to walk, or at least to walk well, as they get in the habit of sitting around most of the time, in particular while watching tv. Were people to stand while watching tv then this would be much better for them, though in this case they might decide to find more productive things to do with their time.

Another great exercise is gardening, as all the muscles of the body are utilized.

[Bag O Bees]

I run a bone densitometry scanner every day on transplant patients who are on high doses of anti-rejection drugs. One of the main side-effects from these medications is that they can decrease bone density, sometimes very drastically and can cause osteopenia (a pre-condition), or osteoporosis.

The advice we give the patients is to do some form of resistance training. I think part of the problem understanding this topic is confusing weight-bearing and resistance. Weight-bearing exercises are a form of resistance training -and they are the best exercise to do for the prevention of osteoporosis. However, because of their many health problems (or age), some of our patients cannot do weight training. For those patients, we recommend other types of resistance training which include swimming and water aerobics, walking, cycling, or using those stretchy rubber band looking things you can buy at the sporting gear stores, etc.

Since I am following the same patients for years after their transplants, I am getting fairly consistant data on them. I think for the prevention of osteoporosis, weight-training is the best exercise overall, especially for women. I also think that by doing other types of resistance training achieves two things:

1) you don't get bored doing the same thing every workout
2) you get the benefits of both activities in raising your fitness level and in combating osteoporosis.

The best thing you can do is to endeavor not to become a couch-potato

[ciproano]

Thanks all for your thoughtful answers! I love weight lifting and have enjoyed it for at least 30 years. Of course, there were times in my younger life when I could spend two hours a day at the gym and now I'm lucky to squeeze in two hours a week to lift!

In spite of that and years of running, cycling, swimming and erging, I am "borderline" for osteoporosis and a year ago (age 55) started Actonel as a result of stress fracture in my foot. I'd already been taking calcium supplements for years. I wonder if some of it is just genetic? Or maybe from having babies late in life (I had mine at 42 and 44...me, not them!).

I don't run anymore but with two Boy Scouts, I am doing my share of hiking and backpacking (there's some weight-bearing exercise!). I guess as long as I keep fitting some weight training in along with enough of whatever cardio is keeping my interest, I can hope to keep my bones strong.


Thanks again for all your helpful comments!

Cindy

[Nosmo]

My understanding is that swimming, cycling and rowing does help prevent osteoporosis provided one gets enough calcium. The problem is that one looses a fair amount of calcium in sweat. So if calcium intake is high enough then you are OK. If not it can be a real problem. It is not too uncommon for serious cyclists and rowers to have low bone density.

[RowtheRockies]

My understanding is that swimming, cycling and rowing does help prevent osteoporosis provided one gets enough calcium. The problem is that one looses a fair amount of calcium in sweat. So if calcium intake is high enough then you are OK. If not it can be a real problem. It is not too uncommon for serious cyclists and rowers to have low bone density.

Nosmo,

I have to be honest and I was about to call BS on this but I googled and found http://outside.away.com/outside/bodywor ... nes-1.html Among other articles from reputable sources. I sweat like a PIG, I mean seriously, I have only met one persont that sweat more than me. I always waved off a free bone scan at the yearly health fair at my office but I think now I may do it. Thanks for posting that.

Rich

[Bob S.]

I always waved off a free bone scan at the yearly health fair at my office but I think now I may do it. Thanks for posting that.

Rich

Don't wait! Get it done now and regularly. I thought that I was doing all the right things, exercise, plenty of calcium and all that. A test 5 or 6 years ago indicated that there was no sign of any problem. Then, early last year, during a long postponed general checkup, I was persuaded to have another one done. It was quite a different procedure from the first one and the results were dismal. It was more a blow to my ego than anything else, but it showed that I am definitely osteoporotic to the point where I need medication (a phosphorus compound) to slow down its progress. There is no cure, it just gets worse. All they can do is slow it down. Since a major segment of my excercise routine is hiking solo on rough mountain trails, it is a very sobering thought that I have to be super careful to avoid a fall,

Bob S.

[RowtheRockies]

Bob,

Did you read the article I linked above? It was an eye opener for me. I had never heard that calcium can be lost through sweat or that athlete's that participate regularly in non-weight bearing exercise are at risk for bone density loss. I am definitely going to ask my GP to prescribe a bone scan. Not only do I sweat much more than the average person but Osteoperosis runs in my family. My Grandfather has it and takes Phosomax (don't remember if that is the exact name). I am also a runner but have curtailed my runnng since starting to erg a year ago. I think after the competition at the end of the month I will alternate rowing with running. I kind of miss running anyway.

Rich

[RowtheRockies]

Does anyone know if running builds bone density in all your bones or just those of the lower body?

Also, before I started erging, I used to do a lot of body weight excercises, dips, pushups, pullups, etc. I assume that body weight excercises would be considered weight bearing just as lifting weights is. Is that correct?

Rich

[Nosmo]

It was quite a different procedure from the first one and the results were dismal. [ .... ]
There is no cure, it just gets worse. All they can do is slow it down. [...]

Bob S.

Bob,
How were the procedures different? I've never had one and am curious.

Also it was my understanding (lack of understanding?) that one could increase bone density by 2% per year with supliments and weight training.

Nosmo

[Bob S.]

It was quite a different procedure from the first one and the results were dismal. [ .... ]
There is no cure, it just gets worse. All they can do is slow it down. [...]

Bob S.

Bob,
How were the procedures different? I've never had one and am curious.

Also it was my understanding (lack of understanding?) that one could increase bone density by 2% per year with supliments and weight training.

Nosmo

Nosmo,

The first one was done in at a large orthopedic clinic in the SoCal metropolis and involved some sort of testing of a hip and an ankle, but I can't remember the details any more. The recent one was done at the small local hospital out here in the boonies (18,000 people in 5,000 square miles). To my amazement, they had a giant, very modern-looking machine that sort of swallows up the patient. Unfortunately, I have no idea how it worked. In appearance, it reminded me of pictures that I have seen of medical nuclear magnetic resonance equipment, but I doubt that it involved NMR. I had some indication that this equipment was checking out my spine and hips. but this is a guess on my part.

For younger people, It might be possible to increase bone density, but at my age (82) they were not at all optimistic. The only figure quoted was "2 1/2%." I don't know what this means, other than beyond pre-osteoporotic and definitely in the osteoporotic category. I have always been somewhat kyphotic, even as a teenager, but it is quite pronounced now. I am 2-3 inches shorter than I was in my mid years.

Bob S.