“Wait… You Need Me to Leap?”
Once I counsel including impression coaching to the health routines of my over-50 shoppers, I typically get large eyes and raised eyebrows. They image explosive field jumps or high-impact plyometrics — and understandably, that sounds intimidating, particularly for somebody who’s by no means tried it, hasn’t executed it in many years, or is navigating osteoporosis or osteopenia.
However right here’s the factor: impression coaching doesn’t should imply leaping tall packing containers in a single sure. Actually, it may be surprisingly easy — and lots nearer to the bottom — but nonetheless construct stronger bones.
What Is Impression Coaching, Actually?
Impression refers to any two forces assembly each other. In impression coaching, these two forces are your physique and the bottom.
We regularly consider bones like these lifeless plastic skeletons from anatomy class — static and inert. However bones are extremely alive, richly provided with blood vessels, and extremely attentive to the stresses we place on them.
In your bones to listen, the impression must exceed what they expertise throughout regular each day exercise. Issues like strolling, stairs, yoga, and Pilates are “ho-hum” on your bones. Even operating and jogging could be boring [yawn] in case you do them frequently!
Impression coaching sends stronger alerts that inform your bones to ramp up exercise and lay down new bone cells. And new bone cells = stronger, denser bones.
How Impression Coaching Improves Bone Well being
All through life, bones undergo an everyday reworking course of: previous and broken bone cells are damaged down and changed by new, wholesome ones.
Throughout youth, we construct bone quicker than we break it down — till we attain peak bone mass, which for most ladies happens between ages 25–30.
However girls can lose as much as 20% of their bone mass throughout the menopause transition — often from one 12 months earlier than their last interval via 5 – 6 years after.
Osteoporosis Is a Childhood Illness?
Dr. Belinda Beck refers to osteoporosis as a “childhood illness.” With out sufficient bone-building bodily exercise as kids and adolescents, we miss out on reaching our full bone mass potential. That leaves us extra weak to low bone density later in life.
SIDEBAR:
Dr. Belinda Beck ran the landmark LIFTMOR trial, which discovered that high-intensity resistance and impression coaching considerably improved bone density in postmenopausal girls — and it was secure, even for these with low or very low bone mass.
Begin Impression Coaching Safely
When beginning any new kind of train, start small. See how your physique responds, and progress step by step.
Analysis reveals that bones reply greatest to small doses of impression unfold all through the day.
Sneakers or No Sneakers?
I’m typically requested whether or not to put on footwear for impression coaching. My reply? It relies upon.
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When you’re used to strolling round barefoot, you may really feel fantastic beginning with out footwear.
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When you at all times put on footwear, you’ll seemingly really feel extra supported carrying them.
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The extra intense the motion, the extra useful footwear turn into — particularly for to cushion and defend your toes throughout coaching.
One observe: very comfortable sneakers can take up (a.okay.a. cut back) impression, which could assist learners ease into this type of coaching extra comfortably.
Newbie-Pleasant Impression Strikes (In Order of Issue)
Begin with just some reps, 2–3 occasions a day. Work as much as 10 impacts per session, aiming for 50 complete per day. You’ll be able to sneak these in whereas your espresso brews or throughout industrial breaks! (Bonus factors for multi-directional hops and jumps.)
👀 Watch the video of every of those strikes right here.
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Heel Drops: Rise onto your toes, then drop your heels down with a agency touchdown. You wish to really feel a reverberation via your bones.
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Stomps: Raise one foot and stomp it down flat to create a skeletal vibration.
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Leaping Jacks: The traditional transfer — leap your legs out whereas elevating arms overhead, then return to middle.
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Drop Landings: Step off a low platform and land with bent knees.
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Leap: Bend knees, leap vertically, and land with management.
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Hop: A single-leg leap in place or in several instructions — like hopscotch!
Don’t fear if a few of these really feel awkward or unfamiliar. Choose one or two and construct step by step.
🚨Watch the video of every of those strikes right here.
Why Impression Coaching Issues (Now Extra Than Ever)
Impression coaching isn’t only for elite athletes — it’s for anybody who desires to age with power, confidence, and vitality.
Only a few hops or heel drops a day may also help:
No want to leap into the deep finish. Begin small, keep constant, and bear in mind: each little impression counts.
Your bones — and your future self — will thanks.
When you want extra info on navigating train for bone well being, or have been identified with osteoporosis or osteopenia, I’m right here to assist! —Karin
P.S. Acquired Younger Ones in Your Life? Assist them construct their “bone financial institution” early. Encourage them to leap, skip, hop, climb — and higher but, transfer with them. Bone well being is a lifelong funding, and it’s by no means too early (or too late) to begin.
References:
The Function of Excessive-intensity and Excessive-impact Workouts in Enhancing Bone Well being in Postmenopausal Girls: A Systematic Assessment., Manaye S, et. al, 2023
Mechanobiology of Bone Tissue and Bone Cells, Astrid Liedert, et. al, 2005
Bone and the perimenopause, Lo JC, et. al, 2011
The BPAQ: A bone-specific bodily exercise evaluation instrument, Weeks B., Beck, B., 2008
Skeletal site-specific results of leap coaching on bone mineral density in adults: a scientific evaluation and meta-analysis, Florence GE, et. al, 2023
The impact of train depth on bone in postmenopausal girls (half 2): A meta-analysis. Kistler-Fischbacher M, et. al, 2020
The Mechanosensory Function of Osteocytes and Implications for Bone Well being and Illness States. Choi JUA, et. al, 2022
Efficiency of Leaping Train in Enhancing Bone Mineral Density Amongst Premenopausal Girls: A Meta-Evaluation, Zhao R., et. al, 2014
