Daily, I hear the phrase “getting older is so difficult. Don’t get old, Takoda.” It has become a societal norm to associate aging with losing the ability to move well, feeling less confident, and constantly dealing with aches and pains. While it is certainly the case that getting older has its challenges, what if there was something we could do to preserve our movement abilities and maintain our confidence into the later years of life?
This is one of the biggest topics in the health and wellness industry. The answer does not lie behind a prescription medication or the latest fad diet. The key to staying independent and maintaining confidence is skeletal muscle. As we get older, we naturally lose muscle mass at a rate of 1-2% every year after the age of 50 years old. Losses in strength are even greater, at an estimated loss of 1.5-5% annually, depending on your activity level. Over time, these losses have a significant impact on how we move, function, and feel.
Skeletal muscle is a vital organ in the body. Not only does it allow us to move in a variety of motions, but many consider it to be a major endocrine organ due to the release of signalling molecules when our muscles contract. These molecules communicate with the brain, liver, pancreas, and adipose tissues to help regulate metabolism and homeostasis. The equation is simple; more muscle mass equates to better health outcomes in older populations.
Maintaining muscle mass is an integral part of health and well-being. However, exercise such as walking or other cardiovascular activity is simply not enough to slow these declines in muscle mass. Strength exercise is required to maintain muscle mass, strength, and power. This highlights the need to incorporate regular resistance training into our weekly movement routines.
So where do you start? The gym can feel intimidating. Knowing what exercises to do, or what equipment to use, can be overwhelming. That’s exactly why we created the Parksville Performance Clinic, a branch of Parksville Physiotherapy. The Performance Clinic is a welcoming movement space designed to help you build strength, move better, and feel confident in your body. Work with a registered kinesiologist to develop a personalized program, or join one of our group classes; from cardiac rehab to Pilates to strength and conditioning.
Everything we do is built around three guiding values: Feel strong. Move well. Live confidently.
250-248-2644 | parksvillephysio@gmail.com | parksvillephysio.ca
