Did you know that grip strength is one of the biggest indicators of longevity in life? Grip strength can show a few important health factors in an individual, such as the ability to fight infection, can be an indicator of chronic disease and is directly correlated to a healthier aging process. What this means is that the stronger you are, the healthier you are. And grip strength is only the beginning.
Starting in your 40s, everyone experiences, a natural process called sarcopenia, which is the degenerative loss of skeletal muscle mass, at the rate of about 3 to 5% every decade. That is why, Kassia Garfield, a physical therapist and owner of MaxStrength Fitness of Niceville, says strength training has a profound effect on a person’s physical and mental abilities. “When we lose our muscle mass, it affects all of our other sub systems,” Garfield says. “It can affect balance, joint health, posture, weight management, endurance, mental health, functional independence, and overall longevity. Strength training has a pivotal role in maintaining muscle mass and improving overall health.” Without actively counteracting sarcopenia, the body loses muscle mass. Many active older adults still like to walk, bike, golf, etc., but this is not the same as strength training. Strength training is very specific and takes intentional action to counteract the natural loss of muscle mass. “As a PT, I am an advocate for fitness, whatever that looks like for an individual,” Garfield says. “But after the age of 40, if you are not strengthening, you are getting weaker year to year.”
Starting something new can be hard without the knowledge, experience or motivation. Finding a buddy system, hiring a professional or watching some videos can be a great place to start for anyone. In the world of the internet, resources are available everywhere. Habits take time to create, however, so the sooner you take steps to making the change, the better!
Kassia is a physical therapist, veteran, educator and life transformer at MaxStrength Fitness of Niceville. The fitness studio targets the busy professional and active aging adult. “Although that is our target audience, we are here to help anyone who wants to make the commitment to a better life,” she says. “At MSF we utilize a slow, steady, continuous motion style of fitness training, which is very safe on joints, and allows for maximum effort for an effective workout in just 20 minutes, twice a week.”
For a no cost, low risk, free consultation, please call at 850-373-4450.
