There is no particular age that you should stop lifting heavy. I was quite intrigued when I saw that this was a question that people were asking. Our bodies are meant to move. We are meant to use our muscles and work them.
If you are currently in your 50s or 60s and have been lifting weights for many years, then it is likely that you will be able to continue doing so for many years to come. However, if you are in your 70s or older or have not been lifting weights for very long, you may need to start considering stopping.
So in addition to cardiovascular activities, seniors should consider weight training. The American College Of Sports Medicine recommends weight training for all people over age 50 and tells us even those into their 90s can benefit.
A proven strength training program for building muscle after 50 is to lift two or three days per week, doing 10 sets per muscle and week, with about 8–15 reps per set. Eat a healthy high-protein diet.
Research has found that weightlifting helps seniors prevent bone and muscle loss. and may even help prevent dementia. The Center for Disease Control recommends that seniors do strength-building exercises at least twice a week in addition to aerobic exercise.
While there is no way to fully “stop the clock,” it's possible for many older adults to increase muscle strength with exercise, which can help maintain mobility and independence into later life.
Seniors who work at it, however, can still make strength gains. “Research shows that, even into your late 80s, your body still has the potential to build muscle mass,” Stacy Schroder, director of wellness at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, said.
Lifting weights is a great way to build muscle strength, but when you're over 50 there is no reason to push yourself too hard. Try a slightly lighter weight that you can safely do 10 to 12 reps with.
Low to moderate-intensity strength training with a protein-rich diet forms the basis for building muscles for those over the age of 70. There are many age-related considerations, such as degeneration of muscles, nerves, joints, and bones, which may limit the intensity of exercises from person to person.
Age has nothing to do with how much you should lift. Your focus should be on starting with light weight with the focus of learning how to do the movements properly. Once you can do them properly, work up to a weight that you can do 8-12 reps of.
The good news for seniors who have never engaged in a resistance training program, is that it's never too late to start. In fact, many studies show that seniors over the age of 70 can experience similar gains from regular strength training as young adults.
You can build muscle at any age. It just gets a little more challenging later in life. “Old and young people build muscle in the same way,” explains Roger Fielding, PhD, a professor of medicine at Tufts University. “But as you age, many of the biological processes that turn exercise into muscle become less effective.
The American academy of sports medicine recommends seniors lift weights two times per week, at minimum. Even one time per week of lifting can produce incredible results.
“Yes, you can put on lean muscle mass as you age,” said personal trainer Jennifer Oestreich, supervisor of the Wellness Center at Mariners Hospital, which offers fitness memberships, group classes, personal training and other wellness activities to the Upper Keys community.
Bench Presses
While your loved one can still work with weights (with the doctor's approval), he or she may need to give up this exercise. Bench presses require near-perfect form to prevent injury, and your loved one's joints may no longer be up to the task.
Full Bench Press
It is a common position to tear the anterior capsule, rotator cuff or labrum of the shoulder, especially in the tight and dehydrated shoulder tissues of those over 50.
Gaining Muscle Mass by Lifting Weights
Resistance exercise like weight training is one of the best ways of reversing the loss of muscle mass as you age. It benefits both men and women.
Vitamin D may be protective for muscle loss; a more alkalinogenic diet and diets higher in the anti-oxidant nutrients vitamin C and vitamin E may also prevent muscle loss.
Old and young people build muscle in the same way. But as you age, many of the biological processes that turn exercise into muscle become less effective. This makes it harder for older people to build strength but also makes it that much more important for everyone to continue exercising as they age.
HIIT workouts tend to combine the two forms of exercise that have a huge impact on aging: aerobic and strength-training. Cardio that comes from aerobic exercise helps get the heart pumping. Whereas strength-training helps to keep muscles strong. Yoga is another physical activity that can reverse aging.
For adults over the age of 50, the ACSM recommends the following: Men (50-59): Between 10 and 12 pushups. Men (60+): Between 8 and 10 pushups.
It's Never Too Late to Build Muscle
Though you might not see improvement in days, you likely will in weeks. For example, one German review found measurable increases in muscle size occur in as little as six to nine weeks of consistent strength training in adults older than 60.