Question: Why is resistance training (weight training) so important for older populations?

Answer: The population of men and women over the age of 65 is growing and growing. Many years of inactivity can lead to physical problems and disease. The main problems with advancing age is loss of bone mass and muscle, which can make daily activities increasingly hard. Bones become fragile and may fracture very easily particularly at the hip, spine, or wrist. Loss of bone mass and density can be avoided through exercise and proper nutrition. Loss of muscle mass is also a serious problem. After the age of 30 there is a decrease is the size of muscle fibers (especially in women). The consequences of this loss of muscle are reduce strength and power making it harder to perform daily functions. Safely performing tasks such as climbing stairs and carrying groceries may be difficult. With the muscles being weaker and the bones being fragile, the risk of falls and fractures become more and more likely.

Exercise can lead to significant improvements in muscle strength, muscle mass, bone density, and mobility. While both strength and cardio training can be beneficial for older adults, only strength training can increase muscle size and strength.