| By A. Roxanne Foltz, CTRS/CPRP
At about age 25, we start to lose as much as a half of a pound of muscle mass every year. We often correlate the decline in physical ability to age, but it is actually due to inactivity.
But strength training-which increases the resistance placed on a muscle, overloads it and makes it do more-can help prevent and even reverse this decline. In fact, strength training can increase muscle and bone mass, muscle strength, flexibility, dynamic balance, self-confidence and self-esteem. It can also help reduce the symptoms of various chronic diseases such as arthritis, depression, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, sleep disorders and heart disease.
But seniors aren't embracing this information. National surveys show that less than 10 percent of people ages 65 or older routinely engage in activities designed to maintain or increase strength. For people ages 75 and above, these numbers are even lower. By age 70, loss of muscle strength can be great enough to limit activities of daily living. We can increase these percentages by encouraging seniors to participate in strength training programs. ... want to read more? Click here... |
