Weight training is so often associated with young men and women who want to sculpt their bodies to look like the Greek gods. Nevertheless, it has some significant long-term health benefits; especially when you look at the elderly population. Older people shouldn’t be afraid to pick up some weights because it will help with some of the worst aspects of ageing. The following post breaks things down for you to understand why weight training should be a key part of senior living. 

Lowers the risk of osteoporosis

As the human body ages, your bones become at risk of osteoporosis, which is when they lose density. Essentially, your bones become more brittle when you’re older, heightening the chances of fractures or nasty breaks from seemingly insignificant impacts. Lifting weights puts a healthy stress on your bones while also strengthening the supporting ligaments, tendons, cartilage, etc. In turn, this is shown to improve bone density in older adults – or, at the very least, lower the chances of osteoporosis. 

Reduces fall frequency and severity

Having stronger bones also means that you’re less likely to suffer from severe health consequences if you fall over. The average elderly person could slip over and break a bone with ease, which is why Life Assure fall detection devices are so coveted to help notify emergency services. Improved bone strength means this isn’t as much of a concern; rather than breaking your hip, you have a small bruise, and the medical services don’t need to come over. 

In addition to this, weight training strengthens your joints and musculature, which helps with your overall sense of balance. Your joints are strong enough to withstand more stress, and you can hold yourself upright with more confidence. The end result is that you’re unlikely to fall as frequently as the average senior.

Improves mental health

A large proportion of seniors suffer from anxiety and depression, which can be traced back to the simple fact that they’re getting older. Health concerns make you anxious, not to mention the loneliness you feel when you age. Believe it or not, but weight training can help with this. It’s shown that exercise of any sort will help you achieve better mental health because it releases positive hormones throughout the body. 

With weight training, you take this a step further because it encourages you to go outside and have a routine. You can book classes or personal training sessions at the local gym, giving you a chance to talk to people or make friends in your old age. It unlocks a new social side to senior life, which is incredibly helpful from a mental standpoint. 

As beneficial as weight training is for elderly people, it’s important to go about things the right way. Start off slowly and use barely any weight to test your strength and ease your joints into it. Your goal isn’t to try to enter any competitions or set personal strength goals. It’s just to put your body through some positive motions and help it remain strong and healthy. Don’t go overboard, and you’ll see these benefits.

Adam Mulligan, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.