Not only can adults fight the battle of strength and muscle loss that comes with age, but the Golden Years can be a time to get stronger, say experts at the University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Mich.
"Resistance exercise is a great way to increase lean muscle tissue and strength capacity so that people can function more readily in daily life," says Mark Peterson, PhD, a research fellow in the U-M Physical Activity and Exercise Intervention Research Laboratory, at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Through resistance training adults can improve their ability to stand up out of a chair walk across the floor, climb a flight of stairs–anything that requires manipulating their own body mass through a full range of motions.
Normally, adults who are sedentary beyond age 50 can expect muscle loss of up to 0.4 pounds a year.
"That only worsens as people age. But even earlier in adulthood–the 30s, 40s and 50s–you can begin to see declines if you do not engage in any strengthening activities," Peterson says.
"Our analyses of current research show that the most important factor in somebody’s function is their strength capacity. No matter what age an individual is, they can experience significant strength improvement with progressive resistance exercise even into the eighth and ninth decades of life," he says.
A review article by U-M researchers, published in the March 2011 issue of The American Journal of Medicine, shows that after an average of 18 to 20 weeks of progressive resistance training, adults can add 2.42 pounds of lean muscle to their body mass and increase their overall strength by 25 to 30%.
Peterson says that anyone over age 50 should strongly consider participating in resistance exercise. A good way for people to start on a resistance training program, especially for people who are relatively sedentary–and after getting permission from their physician to do so–is to use their body mass as a load for various exercises.
Exercises individuals can do using their own body weight include squats, standing up out of a chair, modified push-ups, lying hip bridges, and nontraditional exercises that progress through a full range of motion, such as tai chi or Pilates and yoga.
After getting accustomed to these activities, older adults can move on to more advanced resistance training in an exercise and fitness facility.
"Working out at age 20 is not the same as at age 70. A fitness professional who understands those differences is important for your safety. In addition, current recommendations suggest that an older individual participate in strengthening exercise two days per week," Peterson says. "Based on the results of our studies, I would suggest that be thought of as the minimum."
As resistance training progresses and weights and machines are introduced, Peterson recommends incorporating full body exercises and exercises that use more than one joint and muscle group at a time, such as the leg press, chest press, and rows. These are safer and more effective in building muscle mass.
"You should also keep in mind the need for increased resistance and intensity of your training to continue building muscle mass and strength," he says.
Study: Resistance Exercise for the Aging Adult: Clinical Implications and Prescription Guidelines. The American Journal of Medicine (2011) 124, 194-198. Coauthor: Paul M. Gordon, PhD, MPH, director of the Physical Activity and Exercise Intervention Research laboratory.
[Source: University of Michigan Health System]
