Role of Weight Bearing Exercise on Bone Health-Evidence based Practice

Bone is a reservoir of calcium, calcium en masse being required to make and maintain the skeleton. To be an effective reservoir for the maintenance of normal blood calcium, calcium must be able to be incorporated into, and liberated from, bone on short notice. Bone turnover is a coupled process of bone formation and bone resorption (break down). Skeletal mass in the human reaches a peak at about age 30. Bone formation is mediated by Osteoblasts and bone resorption is mediated by Osteoclasts. When the coupled process of bone turnover (formation and resorption) is shifted in favor of resorption, there is relative or net bone loss. This occurs in a variety of conditions like aging, menopause in women, glucocorticoid therapy, hyperparathyroidism, defects in organ physiology (gastro intestinal system, renal system, bone) and other cause like medications, genes, comorbid conditions, etc. Effects of exercise on skeletal system include increased synovial fluid production, increased joint range of movement, increased bone density and stronger ligaments.