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Quiz Yourself
Powerful Girls Need Physical Activity
Powerful Girls Need Physical Activity
Powerful Bones Toolbox
Physical Activity Q&A
Physical Activity: Good for Her Bones
Calcium: Learn More on Physical Activity
Girls should participate in physical activity daily. Although she can get health benefits from a variety of physical activities, bone-strengthening activities are important for bone health.
Girls should participate daily in bone-strengthening activity — any activity in which the body works against gravity, so the feet, legs, or arms are supporting or carrying the body's weight. Walking, tennis, and dancing are some of the activities to choose from. While swimming and riding a bike are activities that will keep your daughter fit, they won't help her build strong bones. The water or bike actually bears your daughter's weight, so her bones aren't getting the impact of the activity.
And while you may think your daughter gets enough physical activity, activity levels drop off as girls enter their teens. Encouraging girls to adopt physical activity as a lifelong habit or lifestyle may help them remain active throughout life.
This section provides in-depth information on bone-strengthening activity and its role in building your daughter's bones.
You'll find ideas for helping your daughter get the bone-strengthening activity she needs. You'll also find resources and tools to make getting your daughter into bone-strengthening activity fun...and easier for you. And, you'll find answers to common questions such as "Why is bone-strengthening activity so important for my daughter?"
Content last updated July 28, 2008
