The interesting thing is the people who have been training with us consistently for years, who are aged 75+ seem much younger than the 75 year olds just starting out. The comparison is not even close.

As the population continues to increase with age there is a dramatic increase in the % of people with disabilities, injury & other related health problems that could be prevented by adopting strength training in combination with healthy nutrition and lifestyle habits. If there is one thing that we need to live a productive and satisfying life well into old age it is functional capacity.

What is quite interesting is that it is also what older adults want. We rarely get a 75 year old saying “I want ripped abs”. It is usually “I want to be able to walk up the stairs without having pain in my hip or feeling like I am going to fall over”. Basically our older clients ALL want to be able to do what they want without fear, limitation or pain. That is, they want function and only a Functional Strength Training method program in combination with nutrition and lifestyle components can achieve this.

The loss of muscle mass with advancing age, which is called sarcopenia, is an important factor to address because it can have a dramatic impact on functional capacity.

The loss of muscle mass with advancing age, which is called sarcopenia, is an important factor to address because it can have a dramatic impact on functional capacity. Below is a picture I have borrowed from Cody Sipe and Dan Ritchie from the Functional Aging Institute and highly recommend you look them up as the stuff these guys are teaching is phenomenal. https://www.functionalaginginstitute.com/

There has been many studies that have demonstrated the capability of people as old as 100 years to build muscle through high-intensity resistance training. Even with all of these studies being completed many people still think that older adults are incapable of regaining muscle and strength. Some still think that lifting weights is dangerous. However the fitness industry know that weight training for combatting sarcopenia and building muscle mass is essential for improving function and avoiding disability. However many trainers fearing injury due to their clients lack of stability and strength use machines and isolated body building methods to improve strength. Which although they may achieve the goal of building muscle these movements do not improve the function of their clients, meaning they do not improve the way a person moves in real life. Technique is everything for this client as disaster awaits for the person who uses Bodybuilding techniques or tries movements that are dysfunctional and not relevant to the clients goals.

Strength training, coupled with balance training, can have a major impact on the quality of your life. Not only can it improve your physical health but it can play a vital role in your mental and emotional well being.