Maintaining Independence as You Age

Strength Training: Your Key to Healthy Senior Living

Starting around age 30, we lose roughly 5% of our muscle mass each decade — a process called sarcopenia. This muscle loss speeds up significantly between ages 50 and 80, greatly increasing the risk of falls and fractures.

Why Muscle Strength Matters

Muscles act like guidewires for your bones. They help stabilize you, preventing falls and enabling quick reactions when you lose your balance. Fewer falls mean fewer broken hips, knees, or legs — injuries that can have serious, even deadly, consequences. Did you know that as many as 68% of people over 60 who suffer a hip fracture may die as a result?

Fitness Is Vital for Long-Term Independence

As you age, fitness training becomes essential for maintaining your quality of life. Ask yourself:

• Can you get up from the floor or a chair without using your hands?

• Can you reach up to put something away in a kitchen cupboard?

• Are you able to carry groceries from the car to your home?

These everyday actions are critical indicators of your functional independence and overall well-being.