Jumping For Bone Health
Research shows that the high impact of jumping is good for your bones (and has no detrimental effects on joints). In addition to a healthy diet and supplements to support bone health (vitamin D3, vitamin K2, and magnesium) incorporating jump training will provide the mechanical loading required for strong bones.
Wolff’s law states that healthy bone will adapt to loads placed on it. The bone will become more dense and stronger to resist the loading. The opposite is also true. If you decrease the load the bone becomes less dense and weaker.
In two research studies 2 different jumping protocols were used. One protocol was 10 - 20 two legged vertical jumps twice daily. Jumping as high as possible using arm swing from barefoot. In the other protocol participants progressed to 5 sets of 10 single leg jumps. Starting with vertical jumps and progressing to multidirectional (front/back, side to side) jumps.
Jumping is a plyometric movement that is a fast and explosive movement that trains power (strength + speed). In addition to being good for bone density it may increase foot speed thus enhancing our ability to catch ourselves if trip or slip.
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24460005/
https://asbmr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jbmr.3867
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