I teach a beginning weight training class for (mostly) seniors (50+). One class member has been diagnosed with osteoporosis.
Do you have any set of exercises to use with individuals who have osteoporosis (this person also has arthritis and cervical spinal stenosis, and according to her Physical Therapist, should do weight bearing exercises, but keep her spine in neutral position, and not lift anything above her shoulders.
While I agree with many of the previous suggestions regarding liability and discussions with this person’s doctor/physical therapist, there are several exercises appropriate for someone who’s been cleared for exercise with these movement restrictions. 1) weight bearing exercises can be performed in a chair to improve spinal stability as well as isolation of the targeted muscles or kinetic chain. For instance, chair stomps (just stomping flat feet on the floor while seated) are one of the exercises I use with my senior clients to improve bone density issues. 2) Many upper body exercises are highly effective at or below shoulder height, like Lateral Raises (with bent arms or straight), Front Raises, Biceps Curl, etc. Just make sure to start with either no weights or very small weights until her technique is perfect. Since this is a client participating in group exercise, I recommend taking plenty of time before & after class to discuss the specific movements she should modify during the class, as well as demonstrating some options during the class when it’s feasible. Because of the cervical spinal stenosis, make sure her range of motion is small enough that her neck & back remain neutral (especially when she’s getting tired!). Keep in mind, too that while an alternative aquatic exercise is effective at building & maintaining muscular strength & joint mobility, it is not considered weight-bearing exercise. Hope that helps!