This happens from as young as the age of 21!
It becomes more obvious the older we become with a decline of 14% of our skeletal muscle mass and strength in those 65 years and above to 53% for those above 80 years old.
Isn’t that crazy! You will lose over half your muscle mass by the time you are 80 if you don’t actively engage in some type of resistance training!
This decline in muscle mass and strength is also known as sarcopenia. It is a condition that is characterised by the involuntary loss of skeletal muscle mass and function.
What are the risk factors of Sarcopenia?
- Age
- Gender
- Level of physical activity
The only way to currently prevent and REVERSE sarcopenia is through resistance style training.
Decreased strength increases the risk of falls and injuries which can lead to decreased quality of life and independent living. Some may think that you become “too old” to lift weights, when in fact stopping these types of exercises can speed up the onset of conditions like sarcopenia and reduce overall quality of life as you age.
A tailored exercise program that involves a combination of high intensity resistance training, balance training and aerobic exercises can be prescribed to help prevent or reverse sarcopenia for you or your loved one!
At Bites, our exercise physiologists will assess your individual strength through various tests, such as grip strength to work out which exercises will be appropriate to YOU! An exercise program will be created based on the assessment made to suit your strength and ability, you can then complete the program in your own home, gym or book a one on one sessions with Emma, our allied health assistant to complete the program in our gym under expert supervision and guidance to help you achieve perfect form and prevent injury.
