You’ve probably heard of osteopenia—the loss of bone density that often comes with age. But have you heard of sarcopenia?
Believe it or not, I still meet people in Birkdale who tell me they avoid resistance or strength training. They prefer Pilates, yoga, or going for a walk. While all movement is beneficial, what if I told you that strength training is vital if you want to age well?
What if I told you that after middle age, we lose about 3% of our muscle strength every year? That slow decline in muscle mass is called sarcopenia, just like osteopenia affects bone mineral density (or bone mass), sarcopenia affects your skeletal muscle mass due to ageing. And it matters more than you think.
The Real Impact of Sarcopenia
Let’s shift the perspective. As we age, strength training isn’t about becoming a bodybuilder—it’s about preserving your ability to live independently.
Losing muscle mass will affect your ability to do daily tasks
- Getting up out of bed
- Setting up from a low chair
- Carrying groceries
- Catching yourself during fall
Studies show people with sarcopenia are 2.3 times more likely to suffer from fractures from falls (like hip fractures, arm fractures etc), because of increased frailty and falls risk.
How Physiotherapy Can Help with Sarcopenia
The good news is that we can fight back against sarcopenia. With the right approach, you can rebuild strength and protect your independence. Physiotherapists at Essential Health Physiotherapy Birkdale can help increase your lean muscle mass by utilising a progressive resistance training program.
At our Birkdale Physiotherapy clinic, we offer progressive resistance training programs that adapt as you get stronger. Your clinician would adjust the loads and repetitions over time to try to limit plateaus in strength gains. These strength-training programs can be one-on-one personal sessions in our gym or group circuit classes designed for all levels.
Our physiotherapists love seeing clients grow stronger and more confident. We firmly believe that everyone, regardless of age, gender, or injury history, can benefit from strength training. It’s not just about preventing osteopenia or osteoporosis; it’s also about fighting back against sarcopenia.
It’s Never Too Late to Start
If you’ve read this far, thank you. Maybe this is your sign to start incorporating resistance training into your life.
Book a consultation with one of our expert physiotherapists. We’ll get to know you first, then create a personalised plan that fits your lifestyle—whether that’s at home or in your current gym. The most important part is starting sooner rather than later.
Because the moral of the story is simple:
Don’t Weaken—Fight Back. Stay Strong.
Call Essential Health Physiotherapy Birkdale at 07 3822 8879 to Stay Stronger.
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