How important is strength training?

🏋‍♂️ Strength training is one of the most important investments we can make in our long-term health.

As we age, we naturally lose muscle mass, bone density and physical resilience. 

Its a gradual process so the problem is that you don’t notice it happening until it begins to affect your quality of life.

❌ Getting up stairs becomes harder 

❌Energy drops.

❌Injuries increase.

❌Resilience declines.

So much of this is modifiable and can be mitigated with strength training. 

It will help improve a whole host of research backed areas including:

✅ Metabolic health (Increases resting metabolic rate 7% in 10 weeks)

✅ Bone density (Increases hip BMD 6% in 16 weeks)

✅ Joint stability (Reduces joint pain without worsening osteoarthritis)

✅ Insulin sensitivity (Improves in as little as 6 weeks)

✅ Posture (Improves balance in 54% of strength studies)

✅ Cognitive health (Improves delayed verbal memory in 12 weeks)

✅ Healthspan (Reduces all-cause mortality risk up to 30%)

Probably most importantly, it improves your 'ability' across everyday life, and I don't just mean in frailty, I mean now! 

You do not need to become an athlete, but you'll definitely feel the benefit of weight training wherever you are in your life, and it goes well beyond just looking toned, (which may well be a sideline benefit.) 

People often worry about looking 'bulky' if they start weight training. Ask any athlete who is actively trying to bulk up, and they will tell you what a hard and active slog that process is. It will not happen overnight and certainly not by accident. 

In healthcare, prevention can often sound over complicated, but it can be kept really simple by maintaining muscle mass, moving regularly, and building physical resilience while you easily can and before it is urgently needed.

Strength is your health insurance for the future. 🏋‍♂️