Thank you Sherri what a great presentation. I gained so much useful information from you. Love the studies and the way you presented them. Following up with the work you did with your mom was a perfect addition to the previous video. And thank you to Pilates anytime for having this available.

Evelyn I don't include bench press since it is performed in supine and does not have direct loading effects on the hip or spine.  It is a great exercise which I think can be done safely with a spotter.  However, I would not recommend a barbell bench press for a client at home alone for which they would have to have a bench and a rack.  There just aren't enough tangible benefits to make them purchase all that equipment to use at home.  I think a Push Up is a much better choice, activates trunk control and core musculature, and essentially works the same muscles as a bench press.  

A very thoughtful and informative presentation.  Thank you, Sherri, for taking all of these studies and presenting them to us in comprehensible and applicable ways.  I am getting on my reformer now and doing #3129 since so many of the non-weight bearing high force exercises are included there.  I went down to 2.5 springs on footwork years ago due to bad knees, but I think I need to increase that to get to fatigue in 10 reps.  

Sherri, I went looking for classes #7463, 7464, and 7465 that you mention, but those numbers are beyond where Pilates Anytime classes are.  Can you help?

Hi Cynthia E, I think that I was given the incorrect class numbers for the "future" classes I was mentioning:  The Reformer Jumpboard class is actually Class #4966 "Bone Building and Knee Pain"  where I worked with a young gymnast.  Swimming and Breaststroke on the Reformer was taught in Class #4965 "Bone-Building Reformer."  Thoracic Extension has been addressed in an early class where I worked with Amy Havens in Class #2038 and Hyperkyphosis was the focus with an older adult, Peggy, in Classes #4963 and #4967.  Thanks for asking!  Glad to clear this up!

Cynthia E ~ All of the classes mentioned are linked in the description to make them easy for you to find. I hope you enjoy them!

Gia Calhoun thanks for letting her know about the links!

Thank you Sheri! This is great info for an upcoming Osteoporosis Workshop that I am preparing for our clients.

Thank yo so much for all your efforts and sharing in a very easy to digest way . I have a client that has been diagnosed with osteoporosis. I feel a lot more confident now and reassured of how to go about programming for her . I look fwd to try out all of your classes I just watched all your mat variations a modifications .

Thank you for this great information Sherri. It's so good to hear someone in the Pilates community stating the facts that Pilates isn't best for osteoporotic clients.  Sure, supplement it - but for other reasons... but not for bone density! Everyone should be doing strength training with their clients of all ages - it's a non negociable for me. 

Question for you - you said that rucking would not improve bone density - (you added it with the wrist and ankle weights) but I'm questioning how this could be possible? Rucking is the same as carrying weights on your shoulders or a child on your back... is this not building bone density in your spine and even hips? Look forward to your reply!