Suzana Mikolova
Experts say participation in a regular program of activity and physical exercise will provide different health benefits such as minimizing the physiological and functional changes associated with aging. Thus, one of the very reasons’ experts say more and more seniors are looking to join a fitness center middletown oh.
Can Weight Lifting Slow Down Aging?
Most people over fifty are aware that they need regular aerobic exercise such as walking, swimming or running to strengthen their heart, but many don’t consider weight training. Turns out adding weights to a fitness regimen can reverse the decrease in muscle mass, bone density and strength, normalize blood pressure, and help control diabetes, not to mention weight lifting makes you feel and look younger.
Studies show that people with low muscle strength had a 50 percent chance of dying before those who gained muscle mass. Maintaining muscle strength throughout life, and especially at older ages, is important for longevity and aging independently.
Take osteoporosis; as we age, bone and muscle mass are continually lost. People suffering from brittle bone disease have an increased risk of bone fracture. This degenerative bone disease results in low bone mass and strength. During adolescence we’re able to increase our bone mass, but in middle and late life we need to maintain bone mineral density to offset the reduction in bone mass. Weight lifting can quickly remedy this problem.
Weights Also Improve Musculo-skeletal and Mental Health
With aging, the performance of daily actions can become difficult. In addition, falls, bone fractures and the need for assistance indicate progressive musculo-skeletal weakness as we age. Improved musculo-skeletal health through weight training improves our overall health.
As many as 80 percent of people suffer from back pain at some time in their life, and as many as 150 annual work days are lost because of this. Regular exercise that includes weight lifting improves the core’s stability, and strength and endurance of abdominal and back muscles, which diminishes the incidence of back pain.
Studies also indicate that weight lifting can alleviate depression. Pumping weights, like running and swimming releases endorphins, which naturally boosts our mood.
Overall, the biggest advantage of weight lifting is the amount of muscles involved. This exercise, in practice, involves all the muscles of our body, so it constitutes a complete workout. Weight lifting also affects the stability of the muscles in order to support an additional load.
Sustaining Physical Activity Maintains Strength and Flexibility
The combination of flexibility and strength are important in improving the quality of life by making daily tasks easier to perform. Everyday tasks like bending down to reach that bottom shelf in the supermarket or climbing stairs all require strength and flexibility. Frailty later in life is too often a direct result of a reduction in physical fitness activities.
Not only does building and maintaining muscle mass help reduce the possibility of fractures, build flexibility and improve range of motion but the added aesthetic benefit gives us a positive view of ourselves.
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