Strength training becomes increasingly important as we age, and we have known for a long time that improvements can be made at any age, and beginning from nearly any physical state. We have assisted a number of people in their 80’s, who even having had multiple joint replacements have made significant improvements in strength, balance, and reduced their risk of falling, among other things.
The NYT piece below summarizes research in this topic, and gives a bit of advice.
Naturally one article won’t cover other aspects of improving quality of life that play into this, but are issues we consider when working with people. These include: joint health, balance, mobility, aerobic capacity, stability, power, among other things that are all included in programs we make for members. What qualities are prioritized depends upon the person, and all are addressed in some measure.
All of this demands that before starting it is vital to do a movements screen/assessment to determine if there is an issue that requires referral to a clinician, appropriate exercises, intensity, and volume, and to develop a structured program to ensure progress. This is where we can help you. We work with many people in their 70s and 80s to improve quality of life.
Please contact us for more information.
NYT Preventing Muscle Loss Among the Elderly
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About the Author:
Owner of Elemental Fitness Lab in Portland, OR. Our approach to training is to integrate research (I'm an NSCA CSCS, certified Functional Movement Screen, and Precision Nutrition) with practical experience. I've studied martial arts in Japan and the U.S. for many years, and have put in my time in the gym, in the water, on the snow, on the rock wall, and on the bike.