Exercise makes bones stronger. In fact, studies have shown that exercise may even help generate new bone in older adults. Two types of exercise can help:

• Weight-bearing exercises. When your feet and legs bear all of your weight—as they do when you are walking—your muscles and bones become stronger because they are working against gravity. Jogging; climbing stairs; dancing; hiking; and playing sports such as tennis, basketball, and soccer can benefit your bones, too.
• Resistance exercises. Also known as strength training, these types of activities use your muscles to pull or push against something to build bone and muscle strength. Free-weights, weight machines, and other fitness tools such as elastic bands or weights designed to be used in a pool are often used for strength training.