Why People in Their Old Age Should Lift Weights

When you imagine the typical weightlifter, what do you see? Do you see some gym rat in a tank top flexing endlessly in the mirror and grunting like an animal every time he touches a weight? While those people certainly do exist, and they do, they far from represent your typical weightlifter. Many people who lift weights in the gym are average people of all genders, races, backgrounds, and ages. In fact, everyone should be lifting weights, and especially people in old age, who typically are not factored into the conversation on weightlifting. Here are three reasons why people in their old age need to be lifting weights.

Extend Your Life

Everyone wants to live forever, and while there may be nothing we can do to prevent death altogether, there are some things you can do that will extend your life – and one of them is lifting weights. People who lift weights tend to be healthier, stronger, and lead healthier lives than people who do not lift weights. Weightlifting helps to promote muscle strength and muscle retention in elderly people who are more prone to muscle loss. Lifting weights is also a great way to stay active and get exercise, which is also known to have benefits to extending life.

Maintain Bone Strength

While you may be aware of the muscle strength benefits that come with lifting weight, you may not know about the bone strength benefits of lifting weights. In study after study, regular weightlifting has been shown to promote bone strength and bone density in older populations who are more prone to osteoporosis and other diseases and conditions that can arise from having weak bones. While lifting weights does have a positive impact on these conditions, that is not to say that you shouldn’t still take medications. Your doctor can prescribe medications that reduce vertebral fractures related to osteoporosis. If you are at risk, talk to your doctor.

Improve Quality of Life

Living a long life is wonderful, but it is more wonderful if your body is active and strong enough to enjoy a longer life. Lifting weights helps to keep your muscles strong and mobile, so that you can retain an active lifestyle through your old age. Being able to play with your grandkids, go out and be active, and take care of your own chores and errands is essential to a good quality of life with age, and the best way to preserve your ability to take care of those things is with regular weightlifting.

Weightlifting is not just for meat heads anymore. Weightlifting is also incredibly beneficial for all populations but particularly the elderly. Consider these three advantages to lifting weights during old age, and get into the gym for some reps.

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