Framework Personal Training - Reno, NV IMG_0768-1200x423 Why Seniors Over 65 Should be Lifting Weights

Why Seniors Over 65 Should be Lifting Weights

The idea of your grandparents lifting weights may be humorous, but the benefits can’t be denied. Resistance training is important at any age, but particularly so for seniors. In fact, seniors over the age of 65 should be lifting weights to benefit both their body and mind. Here’s why.

Lifting Weights to Benefit the Body

Muscle tone begins declining after age 50 – around 15% every decade. That decline has a cumulative effect, leading to poor balance and a greater likelihood of falls and fractures. Those falls and fractures are among the leading causes of hospitalizations for seniors. It’s this growing frailty that begins to impact independence and activity in the lives of older adults.

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends weight lifting for seniors over the age of 50, and notes that people all the way up into their 90s can enjoy benefits. Those benefits include improved balance, a faster walking pace, an easier time going up and down stairs, and a reduced risk of falls. But that’s not all! Other benefits of weight lifting include stronger bones, reduced muscle loss, improved mobility and endurance, stronger legs, better range of motion, and increased lung capacity.

Lifting Weights to Benefit the Mind

While the physical benefits alone can be incentive enough to begin weight lifting later in life, the emotional and mental perks are just as important. Consistent weight lifting – just a few times per week – often results in improved motivation and self confidence. It can also improve quality of sleep, better focus, a more positive outlook, and it may even help prevent dementia and other degenerative diseases.

The biggest challenge for seniors who are interested in beginning a weights program is often logistical. How do they begin? Where do they go? What exercises can they safely perform? That’s where an experienced personal trainer can make all the difference. In Reno, the certified professionals at Framework Personal Training specialize in fitness over 40, and we have a long list of senior clients who are enjoying the many benefits of functional trainingLearn why it’s never too late to get started, and how the experts here at Framework can create a personal training plan that will help you stay strong and independent. Contact us today.

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