Active living seniors who strength train may reap health benefits

Though stereotypically, the weight room in any local gym is the territory of high school football players, people of all ages and fitness levels, particularly women between the ages of 65 and 75, may benefit from strength training, according to the New York Times.


A recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine asked 155 women who were active living seniors to break into two groups.

One team did strength training exercises on a weekly basis, and the other did toning exercises.


After a year, the researchers found that those who were in the weight-lifting group improved their overall fitness levels by between 10.9 and 12.6 percent, while individuals in the toning group actually experienced a 0.5 percent decline, according to the news source.


In light of these findings, active living seniors might consider incorporating strength training into their daily routines as part of a healthy lifestyle.


The Mayo Clinic reports that strength training on a regular basis will help preserve muscle mass and bone density, help maintain a healthy body weight and could even reduce a person's risk of insomnia.



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