I was just with a patient and they asked me “what is the importance of strength training as we age”?
This is important because if you don’t understand this topic, you will have problems staying independent and hitting your goals as you age. You will become frailer, be more prone to getting injuries such as fractures and eventually find it challenging to even get out of a chair.
And I don’t want that for you.
I want you to enjoy your retirement with peace and confidence that you have a body that can go the distance. I want you to stay independent and strong to travel and spend time with your loved ones.
So here is what I want to share with you today:
Topic 1 – Your muscles mass is essential to maintain as you age.
As we age, especially beyond 40 years of age, you will lose muscle mass. This will lead to a reduction in your ability to climb stairs, go up hills, pick up objects, get off the floor to name a few things.
This is gradual and you barely notice it over time. Until you look at what you were doing, 5… 10 years ago and it hits you in the face how obvious your physical decline is.
Muscles are plastic, that is they adapt to what we do, or don’t do. If they are not used, they simply atrophy or waste away. If we use them and keep them strong, we stay strong, we keep our independence and we rock our lives as we move towards retirement.
Topic 2 – Reduced muscles mass will have a major physical impact
If we stop exercising and doing more specifically resistance training with weights as we age, it will impact your life.
With reduced muscle mass we gradually will find tasks such as getting out of chair difficult, picking up objects, or walking up and down a hilly path. This can lead to huge consequences, as you miss out on seeing that view from a hike. Or picking up your grandchild or even something as simple as having a shower independently.
Topic 3 – Reduced muscle mass will have a major impact on your metabolic health.
Your muscle is a metabolic machine. That is with reduced muscle mass it can predispose you to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Muscle mass is the main tissue that contributes to insulin-mediated glucose disposal. Its decrease contributes to insulin resistance. It is simple equation, with reduced muscle mass, there is less muscle available to absorb the glucose from your blood stream. This leaves higher levels in the blood stream. Over time, this can aid the development of type 2 diabetes.
Listen, I hope this was helpful
P.S: Want to learn more about how we can help you to maintain your muscle mass?
Ross Kinsella
