Panagiota (Nota) Klentrou, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Physical Education and Kinesiology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catherines, ON.

Physical activity/exercise can provide an important tool for both the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Physical stress transmits load to the bone and can improve or maintain its structural competence and strength. Participation in weight-bearing activities during adolescence is an effective method to achieve an ample peak bone mass and to reduce the risk for the later development of osteoporosis. Postmenopause, the ideal exercise to stimulate bone mineral density would involve progressive, resistive-type training involving overloading of some nature.
Key words: functional loading, weight-bearing activities, resistance training, peak bone mass, bone mineral density.