Source: Fox News
Summary
A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that muscle strength plays a critical role in longevity for women over 60. Researchers at the University at Buffalo followed over 5,000 women between the ages of 63 and 99 and found that those with greater muscle strength had a lower risk of death over an eight-year period. The study used grip strength and sit-to-stand chair raises to measure muscle function.
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The advice sounds familiar.
Muscle strength has long been recommended for overall health, and this study confirms its importance for longevity in older women. The researchers noted that even for women who don’t get the recommended amount of aerobic physical activity, muscle strength remained important for longevity. The study’s findings suggest that resistance training, which can be done with free weights, resistance bands, or bodyweight movements, can be beneficial for older adults.
The recommendation enters another phase, where movement and strength are key to healthy aging. As the study’s lead author noted, “Movement is the key — just move more and sit less.”
Earlier studies have shown the importance of strength training for older adults, but this study’s use of objective measurements adds to the growing body of evidence. The study’s limitations, including not exploring how earlier levels of muscle strength in adulthood might influence long-term health outcomes, highlight the need for further research.
It seems that the message to “just move more and sit less” is a consistent one in the world of health guidance.
Author: Evan Null
