Do you know that anyone can pump iron, even your grandmother? I’m just going to leave you with that mental image for a while…
Anyway, we are all impressed by those older bodybuilders who look better than we ever did at any age, and while you don’t have to go that far, anyone at any age can engage in strength training for more stable joints and better overall health.
There’s no age limit on training
Just about anyone can do strength training, but shockingly few of us actually do it – even among those of us who exercise regularly. As reported by the Minn Post, close to 60 percent of all adults in the US don’t bother with any form of strength training at all (https://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2018/12/nearly-60-of-u-s-adults-do-no-strength-training-study-suggests/). That’s a lot of people whose sole form of weightlifting is moving a cell phone. While smaller kids, of course, do need to wait until their bones are strong enough, strength training is for people in most age groups, even those in their 90s. It’s one area of exercise that can be tailored to just about any need.
It helps your joints
As Harvard Medical School points out, strength training can help protect and support joints, and it can also ease stiffness, pain and some swelling, even in people with arthritis (https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/5-weight-training-tips-for-people-with-arthritis). Naturally, the thought of starting a strength training program may seem off the wall to someone with arthritis, but when done properly, it can be very beneficial and improve your quality of life.
Choose a trainer who has experience working with people with joint conditions if you have any form of arthritis as they will be able to develop a safe and effective program for you. If you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, it’s recommended that you do water exercises instead of weights when you are in a period of active inflammation.
The way weights can help boost your joints is surprisingly simple: when you have stronger muscles, they’re better able to support your joints. When you have more muscle and less fat, that’s less strain on your joints, too.
Your joints can cause a lot of problems in your daily life when they develop issues, whether it’s from injury, age or a medical condition. Consider adding strength training to your regular routine to help keep your joints in the best possible shape.
