Exercise for osteoporosis--is walking enough? The case for site specificity and resistive exercise.

Historic and clinical references obtained by general literature review and a medlars search from 1984-1994 on the impact of muscle strengthening on bone mineralization were reviewed and analyzed. The efficacy of site-specific resistive exercise on bone mineral enhancement and/or preservation as a supplement to weight-bearing exercise is documented. Previous reports demonstrated that resistive exercises enhance bone mineralization and play an equivalent, or perhaps greater role, than weight-bearing activities in the management of osteoporosis.