Why Seniors Should Lift Weights 

by: Melanie Farley

When you think of strength training, you might have an image of a huge, muscle-clad man like Arnold Schwarzenegger, but elderly people can benefit from lifting weights, too. In fact, adding resistance training into a senior’s daily routine can have a myriad of benefits for the body and mind.

By the age of 70, the average adult has lost about 25 percent of their muscle mass, mostly due to inactivity. Any exercise can reverse muscle loss and build strength, but weightlifting, strength training, and resistance training are best. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the benefits of strength training for older adults, and we’ll go over a few simple exercises that your senior can start right away!