Even one strength training session a week could make a difference
Research highlights that strength training is essential for healthy aging and preventing sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass. Even minimal weekly resistance exercise can significantly improve mobility, balance, and independence in older adults.
Why it matters
As populations age, identifying low-barrier interventions to maintain physical function is critical for reducing healthcare burdens and improving quality of life.
Healthy aging is about staying independent, maintaining mobility and continuing to enjoy everyday activities as you get older. For many people, what matters most is being able to get out of a chair without help, carry shopping home, climb the stairs and recover quickly after illness.
One of the most important and well-established factors in healthy aging is muscle strength. Sarcopenia , the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, leads to reduced physical function and mobility.
Over time, muscles become smaller and weaker. This matters because muscle does more than move our limbs: it stabilises joints, supports balance and acts as a reserve during illness or injury.
As muscle strength declines, the risk of falls and fractures increases, particularly in later life . Estimates suggest that sarcopenia affects a substantial proportion of older adults, particularly those over the age of 70.
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