In this episode of the Movement Logic podcast, Laurel and Sarah dissect a recent email they received from Dr. Loren Fishman, in which he expressed frustration over their critique of his study on yoga and bone density.  In this episode, they address Fishman's email and take another look at his study, Twelve-Minute Daily Yoga Regimen Reverses Osteoporotic Bone Loss.  Laurel and Sarah's conversation explores claims made in the email, as well as Fishman's study’s methodology and findings. They compare his claims against established evidence on bone adaptation and emphasize the importance of high-load and high-impact exercise for building bone. They also highlight the need for exercise recommendations to be grounded in solid, evidence-based research—especially for women looking to prevent or reverse osteoporosis and osteopenia.

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00:00 Introduction

00:47 Personal Updates & Course Insights

14:25 Critique of Dr. Fishman's Yoga Study

52:45 Critique of Yoga's Efficacy in Bone Building

53:03 Mechanostat Theory and Bone Adaptation

55:18 Challenges in Measuring Yoga's Impact on Bones

01:06:17 Dynamic vs. Isometric Contractions in Exercise

01:10:20 Unfalsifiable Claims and Scientific Inquiry

01:15:16 Turkey Studies and Sustained vs. Intermittent Loading

01:18:14 Dynamic Strength Training vs. Impact Training

01:18:28 Cellular Accommodation and Running

01:19:00 The Importance of Rate of Loading

01:21:21 Critique of Yoga for Osteoporosis Claims

01:26:24 Red Herrings and False Comparisons

01:51:41 Concluding Thoughts

REFERENCES

Fishman’s Study

The poses in Fishman’s study

Tables of P values and more P values from Fishman’s study

Episode 79: Make Yoga U Make Sense

Episodes on the Movement Logic podcast 5, 38, 51, 53, 84, and 88 that referenced Fishman’s paper.

Episode 56 of the Yoga Research & Beyond podcast that looks at Fishman's paper.

LIFTMOR trial

LIFTMOR-M trial

Medex OP Randomized Controlled Trial

Meta-analysis on High-Load Resistance Training (HLRT)

Systematic Review on Pilates and Yoga

Bone "mass" and the "mechanostat": a proposal (Frost, 1987)

Molecular pathways mediating mechanical signaling in bone

Episode 82: Weird Science

1984 and 1985 Turkey Study