This is a contribution to the Blog by Chris Travis, owner of Seattle Strength & Performance
As humans age, they naturally experience a decline in muscle mass and strength. This can lead to a loss of physical ability and independence over time, and this slow deterioration may start earlier than most people think. Research from the National Institute on Aging’s Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging shows that muscle mass and power tends to peak in a person’s early 30s and then slowly declines.
The bad news? Not doing anything to offset this loss of muscle mass results in very noticeable decreases in physical ability, especially after age 65 for women and 70 for men. Everything from balance and mobility to the ease of managing daily activities can be affected.
The good news? Strength training can serve as the ‘cheat code’ to staying strong, active, and resilient at any age. Even training just two days a week has proven benefits for improving quality of life in later years, enhancing everything from mobility and energy to overall resilience.
Strength training does more than build muscle—it protects people from injury and promotes faster recovery. By strengthening bones, ligaments, and tendons, regular strength workouts prepare individuals to handle the physical demands of daily life and help prevent falls. Research also shows that strength training enhances joint stability, which can reduce pain from conditions like arthritis.
Beyond physical resilience, strength training also supports cognitive health. Studies from Harvard Health have shown that strength training helps improve memory and focus, reduce anxiety, and may even lower the risk of dementia.
The coaches at Seattle Strength & Performance (SSP) specialize in building progressive and individual strength training programs that drive results for their members – at any age. In fact, statistics show that a consistent twice per week strength training program has produced increased strength gains across their members by an average of 114% in just six months of training. They also express greater feelings of mental sharpness and lower stress which positively impact their lives.
It’s never too late to begin your strength training journey – and why not begin it in a supportive and welcoming community like SSP. Interested? Visit seattlesp.com to get started. SSP’s Phinney/Greenwood location is located at 7408 Greenwood Ave N.
