According to a new study from the Penn State College of Medicine, strength training as you get older, may reduce your risk of death!
Based on the research survey, which covered people 65 and older, after tracking their exercise habits for 16 years, nearly a third of the research participants died during the survey. Less than 10 percent of the participant participated in any kind of weight training regime. But, for those that did weight train, their risk of death as 46 percent less than those that didn’t do any form of strength training.
The study also took into account the participants BMI (Body Mass Index), any chronic conditions they may have had like high blood pressure and diabetes, and other factors such as smoking and drinking – and when the results were adjusted for all these factors, the risk of death was reduced by 19 percent.
The conclustions that the study author, Jennifer Kraschnewski, M.D., came to was that not only does strength training build and strengthen your muscles, but it increases bone density, better balance, and increased stamina – and that reduces your overall risk of falls and fractures, which are major causes for injury and disability as we age. Weight training also helps you burn calories, helping you maintain a healthy weight.
If you’re over 65 and you have strength training as part of your overall exercise plan – great work! But if you’re thinking of starting a strength training program, you should definitely talk to your doctor first.
“Older adults have the ability to achieve strength similar to those decades younger by engaging in simple strength training routines,” says Dr. Kraschnewski.
And, if you are looking for strength training equipment for your home, stop into any one of Fitness 4 Home Superstore’s 3 Valley locations!
Source: Men’s Health
