27 Jun Taking care of our bones is even more important for riders
Posted at 13:45h
in Rider Health
As riders (all of us getting a bit older every day) our bone health is so important to us. We need to keep our bones strong so they don’t break if we take a tumble. Our off the horse exercise programs support bone health, which is especially important in preventing or managing osteoporosis and osteopenia.
The weight-bearing movements and resistance using body weight and bands are crucial for stimulating bone growth and reducing bone loss as we age.
Stronger muscles mean more tension on your bones, which promotes bone remodelling. We are always targeting our core, hips, back and limbs which improves our posture and alignment—all of which reduce fracture risk.
And one of the key things- improving our balance and proprioception, reduces the risk of falls and fractures, also allowing us to feel more secure and confident in the saddle.
Poor posture (like kyphosis or forward head) can increase stress on the spine and heighten the risk of vertebral fractures during impact. This could be from a fall but if your bones are weak enough and your posture poor, it’s possible to damage your spine whilst actually riding!
I spend my life helping riders with physical problems either from poor life choices or accidents. Making better life choices now can help or even reverse these problems.
Movement is medicine, move more every day and focus on the quality of your movement.
