Introduction
Bones are the foundation that keeps us upright and protects our vital organs. They also define the range of our movement, allowing us, along with the muscular system, to perform daily activities safely. This is why it is important to maintain healthy and strong bones, especially when we age. The key factor that determines bone strength is the bone density, which is something that can be improved with physical activity. In this blog post, we will discuss the effects of aqua exercises on bone density.
Does Aqua Aerobics Build Bone Density?
BUT WHAT DOES AQUA FITNESS AFFECT?
As mentioned above, exercising in a weightless environment like water does not help much with bone density. But it can have a positive effect on bones in a different way. Namely by strengthening the muscles and ligaments which support the skeletal system, which prevents bone injuries. The buoyancy of water reduces the impact on the joints and bones during exercise, which can help minimize the risk of injury and the development of osteoarthritis. In addition, aqua aerobics increases blood circulation, which helps bring more oxygen and nutrients to the bones and muscles. This leads to stronger and healthier bones.
CONCLUSION
While aqua exercises do not significantly affect bone density as land exercises do, they offer a different approach to improve your bone health. Aqua exercises help your body recover faster from bone injuries due to water support, and offer you a great alternative for land exercises when you are injured. But because bone health is important, especially as we age, it is important to have a balanced approach in your fitness program and do a mix of aqua and land exercises.
What is Bone Density?
Bone density is a measurement of the amount of minerals, like calcium and phosphorous, that are present in a specific area in your bones. These minerals are important for building and maintaining strong bones. Bone Density is measured on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest amount of bone density possible and 1 being the lowest.
The Impact of Bone Density on Your Health
When you have too little calcium in your bones, it makes it more likely you will get osteoporosis, which is a condition where your bones become very thin and may even break. Osteoporosis can make it difficult to heal broken bones and may lead to other health problems. On the other hand, if you have excessive calcium built up in your bones it may cause other complications like “Hypercalcemia” which is when your body absorbs too much calcium and it gets stored in your tissues and organs. This can lead to kidney stones, heart arrhythmia, muscle cramps, and neurological damage. Too much calcium in your body also increases your risk of getting osteoporosis.
How Does Fitness Improve Bone Density?
When you exercise, you place weight on your bones. Whether it's your own body weight, or by lifting weights at the gym, the stress that you place on your bones signals the brain that your bones need strengthening. Your brain then increases the mineral deposit and bone building cells in the effected bones. Over time, the bones become bigger and stronger.
HOW DOES AQUA FITNESS AFFECT BONE DENSITY?
Aquatic exercising in general does not affect bone density in a significant way. In fact, studies have shown that swimmers have the lowest bone density levels compared to other athletic groups. That is because water creates an almost weightless environment which doesn't challenge the bones enough. But if you are exercising in a waist-deep water, then your body weight would not be completely supported, which would result in some degree of bone building.
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