While many people, both young and old, are wary of lifting weights, new research shows that light resistance training may be extremely beneficial for seniors.
According to a new report by the Cochrane Collaboration a nonprofit health care research company older people who lift weights or work with resistance bands may experience less joint pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthriris or other related conditions.
The team examined 6,700 individuals aged between 60 and 80 years and found that those who exercised two to three times each week became physically stronger. This also benefited the participating seniors day-to-day activities.
Subjects with osteoarthritis reported a significant decrease in pain after completing assigned resistance training routines.
“It is well established that as people get older, they begin to lose muscle mass which can impact on their ability to do some activities of daily living,” explained Dr. Chiung-ju Liu, the studys lead author. He further stated that these exercises helped combat some of the effects of ageing and helped seniors regain some muscle mass.
For those who hope to improve their overall fitness, yoga and Pilates are two gentle exercises that promote physical strength and relaxation. Also, nutritional supplements can also help overall well-being. 