3 Ways to Prevent Age-Related Muscle Loss


 

 

A key way to retain independence as you age is to keep your muscles strong and active. Oftentimes, muscle loss is a natural part of aging, and can have a lasting effect on your overall health, mobility and balance. That’s why it’s important to understand what causes age-related muscle loss and take necessary steps to prevent it from happening. Our assisted living team in Morris County has identified the causes of this type of muscle loss and three major ways to prevent this from happening. 

What Causes Age-Related Muscle Loss (Sarcopenia)? 

The medical term for muscle loss related to age progression is sarcopenia. Our bodies regulate the signals for muscle growth and muscle teardown, keeping them in equal balance usually. However, as we grow older, our bodies become more resistant to the growth signals, making it easier and more common for muscle loss to happen. Here are some factors that can bring on sarcopenia:

  • Not consuming enough protein or calories daily. Muscles require protein to function and to grow. And unfortunately, many people don’t consume enough protein every day to keep their muscles strong and healthy. 
  • Sedentary lifestyle. When you don’t use your muscles they atrophy more quickly, leaving you feeling tired and weak. Constantly feeling tired and weak makes it difficult to get up and stay active, trapping you in an unhealthy inactivity cycle. 
  • Chronic pain or injuries. Injuries happen to all of us. Every single person we know has experienced at least one major injury that made a lasting impact on their health. For some, it’s chronic back pain or hip injury that negatively affects daily life and interferes with exercise ability. When pain from an injury leaves you unable to move normally, your muscles may begin to deteriorate more rapidly, especially after the age of 50. 

3 Ways You Can Help Prevent Age-Related Muscle Loss 

  1. Walk everyday. Walking is one of the best and easiest ways to keep your muscles strong as you age. Taking a daily walk also has great cardiovascular benefits. Whether you prefer to walk alone or with a close friend, try to make walking part of your daily routine. To keep things interesting, walk a different neighborhood every of couple days or bring your earbuds and listen to music. 
  2. Eat a consistently healthy diet. Good nutrition is crucial to maintaining muscle as you age. To start, make sure you’re consuming enough grams of protein daily and calcium-rich foods like yogurt. If you’re unsure about what a healthy diet looks like for someone in your age bracket, consult with a nutritionist who can help you feel your best. 
  3. Engage in weight-resistance training. Don’t worry, we don’t expect you to become the next greatest bodybuilder. Instead, start small with 2-4 pound dumbbells and build up your stamina a few times a week. If you need a little more guidance, there are many free workout plans for people of all levels on apps and YouTube. You could also consult a professional trainer for a combined diet and exercise plan – kill two birds with one stone! 

Active Senior Lifestyles in Morris County, NJ

Our assisted living community in New Jersey has experienced staff members on-site to help support and engage the most active lifestyle for each resident. Here at Lester Senior Living, we strive to provide a variety of fitness options, so all of our senior residents have the chance to help prevent sarcopenia, while also taking charge of their health and wellness. If you’re a beginner to fitness, don’t worry! Our certified instructors can modify exercises to accommodate each resident’s fitness level and provide additional support if needed. 

For more information on all of our senior fitness classes, or to learn more about the Lester Senior Living community in Morris County, New Jersey, please visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org/assisted-living-morris-county-nj/


Original content posted on https://jchcorp.org/3-ways-to-prevent-age-related-muscle-loss/

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