The Hidden Benefits of Strength Training for Seniors
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The Benefits of Senior Strength Training are wide. Many of the benefits of a strength training program are obvious – like increased muscle mass and lower body fat. But regular strength training also provides a host of other, less obvious benefits.
Improved Cognitive Function – Studies by Australian and South Korean researchers looked at the effect of weight training on seniors who were starting to suffer mild cognitive impairment. In both studies, seniors who participated in a regular strength training program showed significant improvements on a cognitive ability test than those who didn’t do strength training.
Reduced Depression – In a study published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers looked at studies with over 1,800 participants. Those with mild to moderate depression who did strength training at least twice a week saw significant improvement in their symptoms.
Reduced Anxiety – Besides helping with the symptoms of depressoin, strength training can alos help reduce anxiety In a study published in Scientific Reports, researchers at the University of Limerick found that participants who did a strength training program for 8 weeks had significantly less anxiety than those who didn’t strength train.
Reduced Risk of Falls – Researchers in Canada looked at the effects of strength training on reducing the risk of falls in Seniors. It was shown that seniors who participated in a strength training program saw a 57% reduction in their risk of falling.
Improved Sleep Quality – Researchers in Germany looked at more than 23,600 adults and gathered data about their strength training habits and sleep. They found that regularly participating in strength training led to a significant drop in people reporting “poor” or “very poor” sleep quality.
Better Control of Blood Sugar – Multiple Studies have shown that strength training both burns up glucose and allows muscles to better store glucose – greatly reducing blood sugar levels.
The benefits of a Senior strength training routine offers Seniors are numerous – both obvious and hidden. Adding a strength training component to your fitness routine can help you stay active and healthy.
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Additional Resources for Senior Exercise & Fitness Advice
Unfortunately, there are a lot of web sites out there giving unreliable fitness advice. But there are also some great ones which we rely on when writing our articles. A few great resources for information you may want to also check out include the National Institutes on Aging and AARP’s “Healthy Living” website.