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An osteoporosis weekly exercise plan: what to include and track

A worksheet for organizing an agreed exercise plan, including strength, balance, supervision and follow-up questions.

4 min read · Published by Bone Builder · Updated September 2026

Awaiting clinical review — written from published sources and not yet checked by a clinician. Talk to your provider before acting on it.

Key takeaways

  • A complete plan needs more than walking or a list of lifting exercises.
  • Schedule the plan agreed with your professional; do not copy research loads into your calendar.
  • Keep strength and function records separate from bone-density measurements.

A useful weekly plan tells you what to do, where to do it and what to record. Osteoporosis Canada’s current public guidance recommends exercises that challenge balance and exercises that improve muscle strength two or more times a week. Aerobic activity has a role too. Your individual plan may need changes for fractures, symptoms or other conditions. Use the worksheet below to organize advice you have received, rather than as a ready-made workout. See Osteoporosis Canada's exercise guidance.

Why isn't twice-weekly LIFTMOR the entire weekly plan?

The original LIFTMOR trial tested eight months of supervised resistance and impact sessions, twice weekly for about 30 minutes. That study schedule does not define every activity a person needs. It also does not establish that a home routine produces the same results. LIFTMOR's protocol and limits and Bone Fit's role answer different parts of the planning question.

Copy this weekly planning worksheet

Fill in the second column from your agreed plan. Leave an item blank when you have not discussed it. A blank is a useful question for your next appointment, not an instruction to invent a dose.

Plan itemWrite your agreed detailsRecord afterward
Strength sessionsDays, location, exercise variations, loads, sets and repetitionsWhat you actually completed and any changes
Balance practiceActivity, support, location and frequencyWhether the setup worked and any near-falls
Posture and daily movementThe specific skill your professional wants you to practiseTasks you still find difficult
Walking or other aerobic activityActivity, duration and any restrictionsHow it fit into your week
Impact, if prescribedExact activity and who supervises it; otherwise leave blankQuestions for the supervising professional
Follow-upAppointment date and contact for questionsUnanswered questions to bring

What does progressive loading mean in a weekly plan?

Progression means changing a training demand over time. It should be a decision you can explain and record, not an automatic weekly increase. Ask your professional to define what they need to see before changing the load, how they will observe technique and how to restart after a break. Our starting-weight guide provides a session-record example.

Keep a separate list of questions about changes

  • Was the exercise setup the same as last time, including chair height or band position?
  • Did I complete what was agreed, or did I change the load, repetitions or support?
  • Did a symptom or near-fall occur that I need to discuss before the next session?
  • Have I received clear advice about what to do after an interruption?
Do not use this worksheet to clear yourself for heavy lifting or jumping. New or unexplained pain warrants stopping the exercise and seeking clinical advice. After a recent fracture, obtain an individual plan before restarting loading.

How can I tell whether it is working?

Separate attendance, exercise performance, everyday function and scan results. A heavier lift is a strength-training record; it does not measure bone density. Keep your clinician's DXA follow-up plan alongside the log. Our repeat DXA guide explains why a small scan difference may not represent a real change.

Make the plan easy to find

Put the agreed schedule next to your training record, with a contact name and the next review date. You can use paper or the free Bone Builder training log. Preview the app if you want to see its demonstrations and routine layout before deciding whether membership is useful to you.

Frequently asked questions

How many days a week should I exercise with osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis Canada’s current public guidance includes strength and balance exercises two or more times a week. The activities, dose and supervision need to fit your health and fracture history; these frequencies alone are not an individual prescription.

Should I increase my weights every week?

A calendar does not establish readiness. Agree on progression criteria and follow-up with the professional selecting your exercises. Record what happened before deciding on a change.

Can a workout log tell me if my bone density improved?

No. A log records training and can help you discuss strength, function and adherence. Bone density is assessed separately through your clinician's scan and follow-up process.

Sources

Put this into practice.

Explore a plan using your reported history and equipment, with exercise demonstrations and workout logging. Bone Builder adapts research principles; it does not replace individual clinical assessment or supervision.

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