Cambridge Bone Builders to speak to the Skeleton Crew
DEXTER — It is estimated that 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and that 34 million more have osteopenia, according to the National Institute on Aging. With the incidence of these bone-thinning conditions so prevalent in both men and women, the Bone Builders program aims to prevent and reverse these conditions through increasing muscle strength and balance using primarily weight bearing exercises. A demonstration of these exercises using weights by Nancy Bunker, Jane Digby and Evelyn Farrar, Bone Builders leaders, will take place on Friday, Oct. 2 at noon at the Abbott Memorial Library.
Contributed photo
BUILDING HEALTHY BONES — From left are the leaders of the Cambridge Bone Builders, Nancy Bunker, Jane Digby and Evelyn Farrar. The three will lead a demonstration at the next meeting of the Skeleton Crew on Friday, Oct. 2 at noon at the Abbott Memorial Library in Dexter.
The Cambridge Bone Builders class meets at the Cambridge Town Hall twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays from 9-10:15 a.m. The sessions are open to all and are free. Classes include an education component of nutrition and healthy lifestyle as well as increasing the opportunity for positive socialization, which is so important to health, healing and well-being. Bunker, Digby, and Farrar donate their time and skills to serve their community.
The Bone Builders program grew out of physiologist Dr. Miriam Nelson’s book “Strong Women, Strong Bones”. Her research showed that practicing free weight training for as little as an hour twice weekly for six months builds bone density as muscle strength, balance and energy levels improve. A doctor’s release is required for participation in the program. Participation also requires the ability to stand unassisted and to descend and ascend from a chair unassisted. Bone Builders sessions are always taught by trained volunteers, in donated space, and with ankle and hand weights supplied at sessions to trainees.
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) sponsors Bone Builders exercise. Cambridge Bone Builders is sponsored by Maine General RSVP, which serves Somerset, Franklin and Kennebec counties. Bone Builder programs for Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Washington counties are sponsored by the UM Center on Aging RSVP. Anyone 55 or older may become a leader by first attending some Bone Builder classes and, then, taking the annual half-day training at one of the RSVP centers. These programs are funded by United Way. With enough volunteer leaders, Bone Builders could be made available to every community in Maine. If you would like to become a leader in Somerset, Franklin, or Kennebec counties, contact Linda Rood at 1-800-427-1127 or email Linda.rood@mainegeneral.org. In Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Washington Counties, call Paula Burnett at 262-7926 or email paula.burnett@umit.maine.edu. Trained leaders are always needed.
The Cambridge group has a maximum of 12 participants, both women and men. Men get osteoporosis, too. One out of four men over the age of 50 will break a bone, and the likelihood of breakage is greater with prostate cancer. Men usually break bones at a later age than women. Eighty thousand men break a hip each year. Although some risks, such as family history and required medications to treat other diseases, can’t be avoided, smoking, too much alcohol, not exercising and low estrogen or testosterone levels can increase the risk of the disease in men and women. These facts come from the National Osteoporosis Foundation. If you would like to attend Bone Builder classes in Cambridge, call Nancy at 277-4815, Jane at 277-3240 or Evelyn at 272-3493.
The Skeleton Crew is dedicated to supporting and educating those with osteoporosis and osteopenia. To learn more, call Liz Breault at the library at 924-7972.