any non runners?

[emily_in_nc]

Do you do any weightlifting/resistance exercise?
To maintain healthy bones exercise has to be weight bearing (another strike against swimming).
I think cycling qualifies.

Unfortunately, that's not the case. I believe that cycling is considered mostly non-weight-bearing. A recent study that Bicycling magazine cited determined that a large % of male elite (road) cyclists had bones similar to women after menopause! Perhaps someone could provide an exact citation - I'm at work and can't look it up now.

I seem to recall that the intense sweating cycling can result in can deplete calcium as well.

As I recall, the article recommended that cyclists participate in other forms of exercise as well to get bone-maintaining benefits, such as lower body weight work, running, hiking, and so forth.

Hope this helps!

Emily

[TsPoet]

Unfortunately, that's not the case. I believe that cycling is considered mostly non-weight-bearing. A recent study that Bicycling magazine cited determined that a large % of male elite (road) cyclists had bones similar to women after menopause! Perhaps someone could provide an exact citation - I'm at work and can't look it up now.

I seem to recall that the intense sweating cycling can result in can deplete calcium as well.

As I recall, the article recommended that cyclists participate in other forms of exercise as well to get bone-maintaining benefits, such as lower body weight work, running, hiking, and so forth.

Hope this helps!

Emily

There were articles (2 of them) published ~2002, and they have been "interpreted" in cycling magazines and the like. They get brought up about once/year.

Nichols, JF, Palmer, JE, Levy, SS
Low bone mineral density in highly trained male master cyclists
OSTEOPOROSIS INT 14 (8): 644-649 AUG 2003

The article shows that cycling *at the exclusion* of other exercise (like general sports) has resulted in these 50-something men having low bone densities (Table 4, for those of you reading along). Their study population and controls were not optimal. Basically, what they found is that these master cyclists never participated in sports when they were younger. (I wonder if cyclists are loaners or something, might be an interesting epi study).
The second article is not in a peer-reviewed journal and I haven't been able to find it. But, this first article (which is interesting) is pretty good.
So, based on these studies, it looks like cycling doesn't build bone density, but it doesn't deplete it, either - although many articles have miss-interpreted these articles to say it does.
According to the cellular biologists down the hall from me who work with bone, the only way calcium could be sweated out of bone is if the person was very compromised in the first place. They also point out that a stationary bike is a major source of exercise used in the space program, where they've found it to be effective in decreasing bone loss in astronauts.

[indysteel]

Running was my first sport when I was younger. I ran the 800 and 1600 meters competitively with some success. After a number of painful injuries, however, I grew to hate it. I ran off and on during college and law school, but it's been at least 10 years since I've done it with any regularity. Now, my cross training consists mostly of light weights and yoga, and I'm hoping to add rock climbing (on a rock wall until I'm ready for the real thing) and maybe some x-country skiing into the mix. I, too, am concerned about bone density.

I was talking to a PT yesterday who also teaches Pilates, and she looked at me kind of funny when I suggested that yoga (at least the kind I do) is weight bearing. I'm curious as to whether that's really the case. When I think of the poses I hold and the strength it takes to hold them, I have to believe that they're weight bearing. Perhaps not as much as running, but then again, running carries a high risk of injury. Any thoughts?

[TsPoet]

I was talking to a PT yesterday who also teaches Pilates, and she looked at me kind of funny when I suggested that yoga (at least the kind I do) is weight bearing. I'm curious as to whether that's really the case. Any thoughts?

I just googled yoga bone density and came up with tons of hits - all saying yoga builds bone density. I find yoga to be incredibly hard (in a good way) and relaxing at the same time, so I'd believe it!

[Bad JuJu]

I used to run, but haven't in more than 10 years. I never liked it much, but did it for physical fitness tests when I was in the navy. Walking, now--I love walking, but not as much as I love cycling.

[sgtiger]

I despise running just for the sake of running. I don't know what comes over me, but once in a blue moon, I'll decide I need to take up running. A few blocks into I'm reminded just how much I can't stand it.

Other activities I do enjoy, though, are: yoga, tai chi, jump-roping, swimming, (occasionally) weight-lifting. I'd like to learn how to surf and start rock-climbing and snow-shoeing again.

[carpaltunnel]

[QUOTE=sgtiger;238903]...but once in a blue moon, I'll decide I need to take up running. A few blocks into I'm reminded just how much I can't stand it.
QUOTE]

Same here!
I like variety, so I do different things at the gym: step class, group power, aquatics, warm water pool (try treading water for 30 minutes), pilates. Don't like spinning, they play the music so loud the audiologist in the suite next door moved to a different building!

Which brings me to my pet peeve: why do "Health clubs" insist on ruining the clients' hearing with over-loud music?

[Velobambina]

I've tried to add running back in for cross-training purposes, but it seems to result in injury. In the 90s, I used to run half- and full marathons until Piriformis Syndrome kicked in. I can now manage the PFS with stretching and not overtraining, but overpronation now is the problem. Doesn't seem to cause knee problems -- hits me in the ankles.

For crosstraining, I am back to rowing. I also walk/hike and occasionally, do some kickboxing (Powerstrike).