How Old Are Your Muscles?

I’ve heard talk on TV about our real age according to certain health measures. I wonder if we could label our muscles, independently, with a real age, how old they would be. We lose muscle mass as we age. Most people want to remain physically active and strong into their 60’s, 70’s, and beyond while at the same time their muscles are weakening naturally. The Denton Stretch for Life way to fight this battle: Exercise.

Losing Muscle Mass

Lean muscle mass deteriorates with age, about one percent per year on average after age 40. In aging muscle, the chemical content and hydrations levels must remain in balance to stay at their strongest. Any disruption in this delicate balance causes muscles to shrink and to appear to age. Research indicates that the mitochondria of our cells may relate to muscle loss. The mitochondria take nutrients into the cells and turn them into cell energy. This process falters with age, possibly leading to muscle loss and functional impairment.

Genetics play a role in our future muscle mass which we cannot change. Disease, medication, and lifestyle can also affect how much muscle is lost or maintained. Talk to your medical professional about how any illness or medication may affect your strength.

A sedentary lifestyle is a big issue in our society today. Many people simply don’t get enough exercise to keep their muscles strong. This results in a greater loss of lean muscle mass than an active person would have.

Your Fountain of Youth

We can’t change the fact that we are getting older. No one has found the fountain of youth, though some have tried. What can you do to prevent some muscle deterioration and to rebuild some of what has been lost? You can fill your fountain of youth regularly with the following exercise recommendations:

Walk Correctly: When you walk with proper posture and gait, you will decrease stress on the joints and increase the blood supply into the joint areas. Keep your weight distributed evenly and your core balanced.

Add Resistance Training: Resistance training helps people build muscle at any age – yes, it’s true, we can build muscle throughout our lives. A study done by Simon Melov, PhD and Mark Tanopolsky, MD, PhD, of McMaster University Medical Center showed that a group of healthy senior adults started a program 58% weaker than a group of younger adults; after a program of strength training the healthy seniors showed that they were only 38% weaker. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a set of strength training exercises that are appropriate for older adults that can aid in strengthening muscles and bones

Reset and Lengthen Your Muscles Through Stretching: To reset your muscles after exercise, practice the fast, continuous and active healing stretches in my Stretch for Sports book and DVD. Follow up with slow isometric stretches. Regular stretching adds flexibility and range of motion.

Learn More through Stretch4Life

Would you like to learn more about positive actions you can take to keep your muscles and bones strong throughout your life? Through my Dallas-Fort Worth Massage Therapy practice, I provide individual consultations, teach classes and provide presentations. Call me at (940) 591 6491 or contact me through my Stretch4Life Website.