Weight-bearing aerobic activities

Weight-bearing aerobic activities involve doing aerobic exercise on your feet, with your bones supporting your weight. Examples include walking, dancing, low-impact aerobics, elliptical training machines, stair climbing and gardening.

These types of exercise work directly on bones in the legs, hips and lower spine to slow bone loss. They also improve blood flow and are good for the heart.

Even though aerobic exercise is good for overall health, it's not all you should do for exercise. It's also important to work on strength, flexibility and balance.

Swimming and cycling have many benefits, but they don't provide the weight-bearing load that bones need to slow bone loss. However, if you enjoy these activities, do them. Just be sure also to add weight-bearing activity as you're able.