Should Your Grandparents Hit the Gym?

Benefits of Weight Lifting for People Aged 60+

Photo by Victor Freitas on Unsplash

There are many myths about aging that make it difficult to develop a healthy attitude, let alone look forward to becoming elderly. Perpetuating these myths in society often leads young people gasping for air in disbelief if you’re not withered and crippled at 50… which is still only middle-aged.

Accepting these myths as a normal part of aging will only cause you problems. Acceptance prevents people from learning that there are simple things anyone can do to ensure that their golden years will be some of the best years of their life.

One of the biggest myths about aging is that once you reach a certain age you need to take it easy and shouldn’t exercise in order to avoid injury.

When you think of someone over the age of 65 do you imagine them as a scrawny old man or woman hunched over their cane? One of the reasons this image pops into our minds is because conditions like osteoporosis and sarcopenia do exist- but they’re also preventable.

Another common myth is that aging means dementia is inevitable. Dementia, especially Alzheimer’s, is common in old age but it’s not inevitable.

A proper diet, and good sleep will combat a good portion of the aging process, but exercise is also crucial.

There is one category of exercise that can help all issues regarding the aging process that a person can start at almost any age: weight-bearing/resistance exercise.

Weight-bearing/resistance exercises force your muscles to work against gravity. A number of exercises fall under this category including: hiking, jogging, and weight lifting. Even walking, dancing, climbing stairs, and getting up from your chair are mild weight-bearing/resistance exercises.

What makes this form of exercise special is that it strengthens your bones. Bicycling and swimming are great for strengthening your heart and muscles but they don’t fall under the weight-bearing/resistance category because they don’t tend to strengthen your bones.

One of the most debilitating age-related diseases is osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is bone loss to the point that your bones become frail and it’s often undetectable…