MIKE IRANI FRCP, A CONSULTANT RHEUMATOLOGIST AND A DOCTOR FOR THE IWF, has been researching :
Bone density in Sportsmen. Weightlifters were best: it means Olympic lifts. The worst were swimmers. Rowers were not good either except in the hip area. Cycling was bad. The poorer results were all associated with sports in which the bodyweight is supported by a cycle or water, As we know that weight bearing exercise in youth builds up long lasting increases in bone density, we can be sure that those who have benefitted from this type of activity will be less likely to suffer osteoporosis (brittle bones) in later life, (at the menopause for women) and in old age for men. Osteoporosis leads to fractures from falling which often ruins lives and frequently leads to earlir than normal death. Logic tells us that resistance training on machines and benches, sitting or lying down, can not be as efffective as the standing up and jumping movements such as we see in Olympic Lifting Bones respond to the stimulus of stress. For the best effect they must be stressed by compression; twisting and bending. Once again the Olympic lifts and similar movements provide exactly this Brian P Hamill BWL Staff Coach; CSCS (USA); B.Sc.
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