This could be the worst place to ask for health and exercise advice ... ha ha.

I do know something about back pain and exercise will make a world of difference.

Its all about core strength. Build up the core and the rest falls into place. Situps, stretches, and pushups will do a lot for you if done properly. Walking and building up to some running(done properly) will make a new man or woman out of you.

There are loads of websites that will give you descriptions of exercises and stretches that will help your condition.

A physiotherapist helped me overcome an extremely painful injury several years ago by stretches and exercise, when doctors gave up on me.

Remember "moderation".

Thanks for the concern.

History:
For past 5 months I was suffering from back pain, and the important point
is that the back pain occurred only at night when I used to go to sleep!
I used to get cramps, daily. Then finally I went to the orthopedic doctor
who X-rayed my back and confirmed the problem to be the low bone density.

He prescribed the tabled "BON K2". This tablet has worked "magic". The back
pain is all gone now. I am perfectly fine in today's date.

But I am worried that once I stop taking this tablet, the back pain will
re-occur, so I thought of doing some exercise which could increase the
bone density.

I was thinking of purchasing a fancy cycle, lately. I googled "cycling low
bone density", and decided to back off. I haven't verified these claims but
if there is a slightest doubt, I think I should back off.

That's quite a relief. I had googled w.r.t the push-ups exercise, and found
majority of people talking about 50-100 pushups a day. They claimed of gaining
muscular body within 3 months. That scared me, so I thought of confirming.
Currently I can do only 21 pushups in the sets of 3. I can't even touch the
ground right now (when I bow down during pushups), but then I think it depends
on the strength, the person currently has!

Eh? Are weights to be used? Wow - didn't know that. Will consult the doctor
about the weights and the sore back combination. Besides, I don't go to gym.
What kind of weights did you use at home?

That's a very good news for me. My weight has been 52 KG (at height 5 foot 5
inches) for past 7 years!! Weight gaining seems to be an impossible task for
me. But then, my appetite has never been good too.

Indeed, will keep this in mind.

That's expensive, and secondly swimming pools aren't easily found where I live.

That scooter drove me crazy!
Delhi monsoons! Water filled up on roads up to knee level, and then pits to
fall in! I have currently deserted the scooter. I used to become "extremely"
tired after the daily 2 hours scooter drive. I am feeling better now.

Of course, my fault, that non-so-little word war was on "iodine", not salt.

Thanks for the concern.
I haven't been called a "chick" before. Don't know whether to get delighted or
appalled on this reference.

For the nth time - I am *not* under any impression that LQers are Gods or doctors.
Don't you ever talk to your friends about anything else than computers!

Sometimes it's just too much radiation from the monitor that causes Calcium deficiency. I haven't studied this so please don't ask me for a proof

Anyway if you're still using a CRT monitor, you'd better replace it with an LCD soon.

Also, I think too much sitting in front of the computer and less standing/walking could also be a factor. Well I'm not really the one to say these things but just in case the information or idea would also help you

"For the nth time - I am *not* under any impression that LQers are Gods or doctors.
Don't you ever talk to your friends about anything else than computers!"

I was making a joke, hence the "ha ha". Everyone has this stereotype about computer nerds being skinny little people with big glasses.

It is.

That describes me perfectly. SKINNY GEEKS UNITE!

Like so many things it isn't either/or. More reps with less weight tends to produce improvements in stamina more than size, you will still get some size increase tho. More weight less reps tends towards more size. More weight more reps tends to be self limiting as you tend to end up injuring yourself. Weight training depends on a controlled damage/repair cycle. Too much damage is not helpful.

And it differs per person. A training buddy of mine is up the gym 6 days a week, and he's not that much stronger than me. Another mate who plays rugby doesn't weight train at all but is just naturally nearly as strong as me, and I weight train sporadically - twice a week when I'm focusing on it.

Besides, what kind of surface do you prefer for these pushups?
I do them on cemented floor and my hands hurt!
I tried placing towel under my hands but the towel kept slowly slipping!

If you're really serious about push-ups, you could start with higher angles first just like against chairs or tables.

Anyway, personally I dislike pushups. Building muscles tend to give you strength but it slows you down. All I care about is SPEED, and strength is nothing (boring).

Reminds me of gamers who rely on their character's strength and defense instead of the ability to manipulate skills with their own gaming skills.

What makes you say that? Has this been proved?
Just curious to know..

Ahh.. Not always, but it happens. I haven't proven it. Just my intuition or common sense, and some examples.

Yeah because Usain Bolt's muscles are purely for show.......

Get a yoga mat maybe.

Obvious. But you don't get the point. Some athletes are pretty fast by their default composition, but some when they try to bulk up becomes slower, or loses stamina, especially by training the way of strength like push-ups and barbells, etc.

Dear gawds, a synthetic vitamin D analog.

Good to hear its helped, though IMO if you need a synthetic vitamin D analog there is quite likely to be something more serious happening.

Dont believe google search results without looking into things a bit deeper than that...

You dont need, or possibly even want a 'fancy' bike. Its just a tool, not a fashion statement...and nicer bikes are always more prone to being stollen.

When you get the hang of normal pushups, try hindu pushups.

You can use weights when doing pushups....I wouldnt recommend it. Its unnecessary. Leaving out complex maths that dont matter much, if you weight 52KG than when you do a pushup you are lifting 52KG.

I only brought up weights in reply to ntubski.

Err...no, its not really good news. IMO anyway.

You're in the normal weight range. Maybe the low end of normal, but that is healthier than being heavier.

The grass is always greener on the other side, and gaining weight is generally a lot easier than losing it.

Anisha wow - 5'5" - 52kg - big brown eyes - and now recently a chick as well, You sound like the perfect girl. Who needs pushups?

Best regards old friend - take care

PS Seriously - Walking and Running will also help your bone density, as well as get your heart stronger. Also the feeling of strength and vitality that eventually comes with walking/running - is spectacular.

Like all the rest have intimated - don't overdo it - whatever exercise you take on.