I am re-counting a phone conversation I had with Sue about this issue. She gave me her full permission to re-tell the story.

Sue has been getting bone density checks done every 2 years for a while now. At her most recent one (Oct. 2004) the x-ray tech asked her point blank if she was doing anything different recently. You see, recent studies show that women lose around 1.5% of their bone density each year after menopause. Yet, Sue's bone density analysis showed an increase of 14 points since the last test. She told the tech that she didn't take calcium, had not changed her diet, was taking no medications, but had been doing Tai Chi once a week with a Shaolin-Do teacher for the last 2 years. The tech excitedly said "THAT'S IT, THAT'S WHAT DID IT!" Not only had the density increased in her hips and low back but she had even become a full inch taller since the last checkup. Congrats to Sue for taking an active role in the maintenance of her health.