Is Resistance Training Beneficial to Senior Women?
Q – I’ve always felt that resistance training will benefit my mom who suffers from osteoporosis, but she seems to have the perception that weight and strength training is just for the body builder types who want to become stronger and build muscle. Tell me that there really are benefits to senior women so I can convince her it is a good idea, despite her misconceptions.
A- Resistance [strength] training is for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or reason for doing it. Senior women don’t need to have aspirations to become body builders or build large muscle mass in order to benefit from resistance training, which has the following benefits to people of their age and sex:
• Increases bone density
• Improves muscular strength and endurance
• Improves sensitivity to insulin, preventing diabetes
• Helps with cholesterol control by increasing HDL [good] cholesterol and decreasing LDL [bad] cholesterol
• Can improve emotional well-being
• Decreases intra-abdominal adipose tissue in healthy older women
• Helps to control potential fat gain and associated complications
Sources:
1. Suite101
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Home Instead Senior Care in Rhode Island provides non medical home care services for seniors and the elderly who choose to live at home instead. Please call us for more information on our in-home care services at 401-667-2923.
